C is for Cookies!

The minis and I love cookies and we love to have parties, so we combined the two last week. We had a cookie decorating party! I need to back-up a little to explain the guest list. I have mentioned my special group of sweet friends before - we try and get together every month or so and it all started at a "mommy and me" music class when our oldest (now about to turn 13) were infants. The five of us hit it off and started a playgroup. The playgroup has run its course, but not our friendship! So, we moms keep it going! We do get all the families together (usually on the 4th of July) but it has been a while since we had a "playgroup" day, so we decided that a "cookie playgroup" was in order. By the way, we started-out with five mommies and five babies and now we have five mommies and thirteen babies! How can that be?!

Here we are! Janey, LeAnn, me (aka: heat miser), Angie and Michelle

You may be wondering why we are wearing Strawberry pajamas. Ok, maybe you weren't, but you are now! We started our "mommy only" chapter of the playgroup over an evening of champagne and strawberry cake. The "strawberry theme" sort of stuck and then Target had these cute Strawberry pjs and well, it just sort of happened. And yes, we do wear them when we get together. Silly? Yes! But we don't care!

Enjoy!

Krissy

That time of year...

There is something about this time of the year that makes me want to redecorate and reorganize everything. It's the "out with the old, in with the new" mentality that seems to be everywhere. It hasn't escaped me. I walked into my closet this morning and immediately started a "discard" pile, only to get distracted by my beeping phone, alerting me of emails. The emails were full of sales, etc.. J.Crew is calling my name! I guess that defeats the purpose of previously mentioned discard pile. Oh well!

I took a peak at Country Living and found their list of upcomimg trends. In with the new! I'm not sure how I feel about some of them, but I thought I would share! Hope you are having a great day!

I totally identify with this pic! I am working-out (as soon as I finish this post!)

Farm animals are an upcoming trend.

Maps - love this trend. Although, it has been around for a while.

I have a chest in Sport Cort's room that I have wanted to decopauge with maps for a while!

Floral - does it ever really go away? I love this pic. It reminds me of my great-grandmother. I have a collection of vintage aprons from my great-grandmother and Mr. Pearl's grandmother. How cute is this display?

Plaid - again, not new, but wonderfully fun and classic!

Rope - love this! the pillow, the table, the light (lovin' this for one of my boys!)

xoxo,

Krissy

all pictures: www.countryliving.com

Oh No!

In the middle of our family upper-respiratory infection out-break, and the "last week of school before the holidays" tests, performances and parties and the general mayhem that accompanies December, THIS happened...

Yes, I had a birthday! The day itself was somewhat quiet, as Sport Cort was at home trying to mend and I was not at 100%, but it was a wonderful day. Thank you to all of my sweet friends and the phone calls, texts and pop-in visits. It made my day! Mr. Pearl and the minis made me breakfast in bed and we had dinner with my parents and brother and sister-in-law. It really was a great day. I had planned on celebrating in January, after the holidays were behind us. That was not the plan - little did I know.

The next Wednesday, after my actual b-day, Mr. Pearl and I were to meet our friends, Allison and Paul, for dinner at one of my absolute favorite bistros. We walked in to meet them, only to be escorted to the back, where a room full of my nearest and dearest were lying in wait! I was surprised - good and surprised! I couldn't believe that two days before Christmas, these precious friends all rearranged their schedules to come and celebrate with me. Mr. Pearl pulled-off another one! I don't know that I deserve all of this. I had said that I didn't want a big-to-do made of my birthday. I really didn't, BUT I am so glad that Mr. Pearl did it. It was such a blessing to be around my dear friends and celebrate! Thank you to everyone!

my man- thank you sweetie!

the accomplices - Allison, Susan and Michelle - love you!

Janet and Scott - dear ones!

precious family - my brother, Garrick and sister-in-law, Holli -

we are related AND we are friends!

sweet friends- Michelle, LeAnn and Angie

To love and be loved - be it family or friends- is what this life is all about. I am so blessed with all the love I have around me and I hope I do a good job giving it in return! Special thank you shout-out to dear Mr. Pearl and his accomplices... Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

xoxo,

Krissy

Happy Christmas!

" Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

From all of us Pearls, we wish you a blessed Christmas!

Krissy

Blue Christmas Cheer

Traditional Home

Traditional Home

Country Living

Country Living

unknown

unknown

Don't feel blue like the decor in these pics! Only a few more days, so don't fret! Its time haul out the holly and put the last sprinkle on your Christmas cookies! I wish everyone a stress-free, love-filled, "happy" blue, joyous week!

xoxo,

Krissy

On the Mend - Pink and Green Christmas

unknown

country home

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Country Living

Country Home

Mary Engelbreit

Birdie Pearl

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Helloooooo!!! Sorry for the absence, but my entire household has been under the weather and well, doctor visits, naps and round-the-clock breathing treatments have been at the top of my "to do" list. We are all on the mend! Nothing some steroids, antibiotics, Zicam (my new best friend) and Sudafed couldn't cure. We should all be in tiptop shape for the celebration of Jesus' birthday! (for some reason, the prayer scene from Ricky Bobby just popped into my mind! I'm a "baby Jesus" fan myself) Anywho, last night, Mr.Pearl and I made our last Target run for the week and I just have one or two more stops. Hope you all are finished, as well and can enjoy the week!

Here is some pink and green Christmas cheer for your Monday!

xoxo,

Krissy

White Christmas

I have Christmas ADD. I love all types, colors and themes of Christmas decor. Although I have a lot of color in my own home, I have daring thoughts of one day doing an "all white" Christmas. But then I see some beautiful brightly colored ribbon and vintage ornaments- and well, I will just enjoy these fabulous pictures for now. Hope these inspire you or just give you an excuse to pause and enjoy a quiet moment, as those are hard to come by right now!

house beautiful

mary engelbreit

mary engelbreit

country living

cottage living

country living

traditional home

Listening for sleigh bells,

Krissy

Flashback Friday - Christmas 1968

I went through my stash of vintage magazines and found a few December issues to share. Today, I am highlighting Better Homes and Gardens from 1968. The "holiday feature" was "Christmas Around the World." The magazine contains decorating ideas and recipes to add a "worldly" flavor to the holidays! I hope you enjoy this little trip back to the sixties and have a great weekend!

At the top of every woman's list - a fliptop dishmobile!


Christmas in Poland

Christmas in Norway

Yum! I must admit that I do love me some Eagle Brand!

The frozen cherry loaf was a favorite of my Nanno.

Nothing says Christmas quite like Spam Spread.

"decorator panels" - that is what Amana called these doors.

A decorator endorsed this?

Love this ad! Do you remember some of these appliances?

The popcorn popper, the coffee pot, the avocado green electric skillet (Nanno had one of those, too) but my personal fave, the bread warmer (I used to love to flip the top back and forth)

Happy Friday!

Krissy