2015 Christmas Card Reveal

I am so excited to show y'all our Christmas card for this year! We are all about keeping it real and including the outtakes with the pups. We are in love with how they turned out!

Usually we take our Christmas card pictures on my parent's property or around our house, but this year we ventured to a really popular spot in downtown McKinney. As you can tell by the dog's booties, there were a lot of distractions. They were more interested in the other people and other dogs than they were taking pictures. But, honestly, we wouldn't have it any other way!

Our cards are foil-stamped and we ordered the envelope inserts to add a little holiday cheer for the people opening up our card.

This is officially our last Christmas card as a party of four! Next year should be fun with dog outtakes AND baby outtakes!

Happy holidays!!

Cards from previous years:
2014
2013
2012

Beautiful cards c/o Tiny Prints. 

Gifts for your guy || Under $50

Clockwise from top left:

bottle opener

boxers

handkerchief

phone case

socks

cool tool

water bottle

football game

After a weekend at my parent's house, I am still in relaxation mode because I have off all week! I am 95% done with my Christmas shopping and I plan on finishing up this week. I also want to make some progress on baby boy's nursery.

Above are some items that are perfect for the guy who has everything...cough cough Chris Tucker. I am all about the practical gift this year. No one is getting something just to get something! We've got a baby to prepare for, people! I can't be spending my money on knick-knacks just to fill spots under the tree :)

Happy Monday! 

WIWW: Christmas Card Outtakes + Link Up

"Sit! Sit! Bailey, sit!"

Potty break.

Inappropriate hand grab from the husband.

Child wrangling...I should be a pro by the time our boy is mobile!

"Mom, these pictures are such a bore..." - Wrigley

Welcome to our yearly Christmas card outtakes where some of the outtakes always make the Christmas card because #honesty. We love that our dogs act like themselves and I'm sure next year our card will be graced with the presence of a baby outtake as well. The honest pictures are the main thing Chris and I love about our cards each year! (2014 card here, 2013 card here)

Our friends took our pictures and, after seeing how (cough, cough) well behaved the dogs were being, the husband asked if we wanted a picture of just Chris and I. Nope. Haha! At least it wasn't as bad as this year's attempt!

As for my outfit, I've been wearing the heck out of these jeans and this top. So, so comfy. My aunt sent me a bunch of new clothes and I'm so excited to find a place to wear this dress! My legging collection is growing at a strong and steady pace. I really lucked out being pregnant during the winter months! I've already been wearing leggings and boots almost everyday. It's amazing.

Now for the link up!

- All I ask is you link back to my blog and link to a specific post.

- Write about something fashion related!

- Instagram @SarahTuckerUp for more outfits and randoms!

Thanks for linking up and to see other WIWW posts, click here.

An InLinkz Link-up

Christmas Card Outtakes

You might remember last year's attempt at Christmas card pictures. It was nothing short of a circus! We ended up retaking them with the camera on a tri-pod in the back yard and it was just as much of a circus the second time around, but we just went with it and gave all our friends and family a laugh.

This year started off no different, except I bribed my brother to be our photographer when we were at my parent's house last week. 90% of the pictures are blurry and I have no idea what he was focusing on, but he did manage to catch a couple that will hopefully make this year's card a step up from last year.

Here are some of the outtakes. Chris was just as thrilled about this process as my brother was and the dogs were their normal well behaved, picture-taking selves (cough, cough).

Outfit details, Sarah:
Buffalo Check Top - exact here ($14!)
Grey Jeans - similar here
Sperry Booties (my favorite!!) - similar here and very similar here

Outfit details, Chris:
Flannel Top - here
Jeans - here
Boots - here

WIWW: It's time to shop! + link up

Before I start, I wanted to let you know that Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic all have FREE 2-DAY SHIPPING today!! Plus, 30-40% off!

I'll take a swift ole pat on the back for the fact that I have already checked several people off my Christmas list. Last year I remember feeling overwhelmed and I hated thinking that I bought gifts just to buy gifts, instead of taking the time to get people gifts they really would enjoy.

This year I am bound and determined to get all this shopping hoopla out of the way, so I can spend my holidays curled up in my pj's watching Lifetime movies instead of fighting the crazies at the mall.

If you're in the online shopping mood, you can click on the 'shop' tab at the top of my blog. There you'll find some of my favorite items to browse through!

Today I have for you just a few of my favorite things; aka things that, if they showed up under the Christmas tree, I wouldn't be sad.

Now for the link up!

- All I ask is you link back to my blog and link to a specific post.

- Write about something fashion related!

Thanks for linking up and to see other WIWW posts, click here.

PS: If you're wearing stripes, come link up over here with The Lovely Lookbook!

Linking up with Because Shanna Said So, Get Your Pretty On, The Pleated Poppy.

The Tucker Tree

Taken with my 50mm 1.4 that I am not supposed to get and use until Christmas...oops. I also have no idea how I took this picture, but I love it!

Another fun bohka shot. Don't ask me how many times I tried to google "booka", "bookeh", and "bookah".  

To be honest, I am not in love with the 'colorful' Christmas idea. A couple years ago I went to Target the day after Christmas and they had tons of colorful ornaments on super-sale. Like super-super sale. So, colorful it is. I don't hate it, I just one day far-far away want to get a pre-lit, white, 10-footer and cover it with cliche green and red ornaments.

Until my cliche Christmas dreams come true, I will plop a cliche, giant red bow on top and call it merry! 

Here is last years tree, just for giggles. 

Chris was not a fan of last year's tree topper. Party pooper. He isn't much for those curly, glittery things. Men, meh. 

Linking up with Courtney and Megan!

Seven Affordable Gifts for Her

If I were to go to the mall and sit on Santa's lap (it's not too late...), this is what I would tell him I want. I might have already bought number four... and wrapped them and put them under the tree and they aren't returnable because this particular store was closing but they truly are the best booties my tooties have ever been in and I sure hope that Chris forgives me when I open that gift and everyone looks around wondering if a real Santa actually came down my parent's non-existent chimney and put them under the tree. I hope that run-on sentence showed you just how perfect those booties are...

By the way, I am in my last month of my resolution!! And getting clothes and shoes from Santa doesn't count. 

one - Zebra Dish 

two- sweater

three - Kitsch Pony Tail Holders

four - Sperry Chelton Bootie

five - Nike Running Tights

six - TOMS wedges 

seven - camera strap

What do you want for Christmas?! These are seven affordable and adorable gifts for a lucky lady!

DIY Anthro Inspired Painted Wine Glasses

Ever since I pinned this on Pinterest I have been dying to recreate these simple, yet elegant stemless wine glasses. What a more perfect time than now, just in time for the holidays!

I used DecoArt Paint from Hobby Lobby and it seems to hold up pretty well. I have been hand-washing them as well. I used gold, silver, and white paint and I love how they turned out!

Have you ever tried this before?! 

Happy Tuesday!

Linking up with Niki and Karly!

DIY Christmas Wreath

When I saw this on Pinterest I was in love with how it looked, but I was not about to drop 46 bucks on a wreath I knew I could make. So, off to Hobby Lobby I went.

About an hour later I had recreated an (almost) exact replica of the wreath I pinned on Pinterest. I would say my first DIY wreath was a success! Chris's reaction was, "Wowwww babe! Good job!" Brownie points for me :)

I also am in the process of making a burlap wreath for over the fireplace...but I ran out of burlap, so that one is on hold.

Budget breakdown: 

- Wreath: $6.99

Flowers: $5.99 each

Burlap: $4.99

I used a 40% off coupon on the wreath, so I estimate the whole wreath costs around $25. You can only use one coupon per visit, so if you were willing to go multiple times, you could save even more. I am not patient enough for that!

Have you made a wreath?! 

Follow me on Pinterest HERE

Instagram @sarahtuckerup

Linking up with Niki and Karly!

2012 Tucker Christmas Card: Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Well it is only Christmas Eve, but you know what I mean..

This weekend we celebrated Christmas round one with my family. I am liking this whole multiple-rounds-of-Christmas-jazz. We ate tons, laughed a lot, and had a wonderful time.

Tonight we are headed to Chris's parent's house for Christmas round two. I love the holidays. Having soooo much family time and soooo little work time is purrrr-fection!

I will be going skiing later this week {the 27th} with my family...poor Chris has to stay back and work...so I will be taking a break from blogging in order to concentrate on my ski-slope domination!

Have a WONDERFUL Christmas everyone. May God bless each and every one of you with happiness and joy this holiday season.

Love ya!

InstaFriday + High Five For Friday!

 My hubs was SO encouraging last weekend during my race. As you can see, I wasn't exactly in domination mode.

 Date night to the Melting Pot calls for bringing out the new blanggg...or just bring out the statement necklace. Either or. Bring 'em out, bring 'em out!

 Just another repeat shot from the Melting Pot because it was THAT good.

 Chris was off this week M-W and he decided to finish painting our entryway. And he decided to melt my heart once again...anddd now for the truth. Fact: that probablyyyy won't get painted for months. The Tucker household works on the paint-for-one-day-and-not-complete-the-painting-project-for-months approach. It seems to be working well. We just complete our entryway after leaving it halfway painted for over three months. Ehhh, ya win some ya lose some.

Late night gift wrapping because the fam-bam is coming into town this weekend and it would be typical awful for me to have their presents sitting out in the open, unwrapped.

Just some good 'ol Texas Caviar dip for the snackin'. Seriously soooo addicting, BUT healthy...minus the entire bag of tortilla chips I ate with it. Let's pretend I didn't have chips....ahhhh what a healthy snack :)

Here are my high fives for the week, yo:

1. Christmas is almost here and I am done, done, done with my Christmas shopping! Except for my brother....hmmmm...

2. In one week I will be skiing on the glorious slopes of Durango Colorado. Ahhhh.

3. It is a {slight} possibility of flurries on Christmas!!! "I'm dreaming of a Christmas that isn't 80 degrees white Christmas..."

4. I am so so excited to see Chris open his gifts this year. Seeing him excited like a child a quarter of his age makes me giddy :)

5. Tate Stevens won the X Factor! Do you watch that show?!? I lu-uvvvvved Tate and Carly! They are both ah-mazing.

Happy Friday, y'all!!

What are you doing this weekend?? Have you finished Christmas shopping?!

PS: Blog posts mayyy or may not be rare next week depending on how many cool toys Santa brings me. My time will be occupied with family, food, and skiing!

Linking up with Life Rearranged and From My Grey Desk!