Weekend Recap: Thanksgiving Round 1

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Since most of Chris's family is from out of town, and everyone gets pulled in a million different directions during the holidays, we have decided to start doing Thanksgiving a couple weeks early to ensure that everyone can make it.

This girl isn't complaining. It is like we get two Thanksgivings every year! Holla!

Even though Chris's parents only live 45 minutes away, we packed up Friday night and headed over there for the weekend. We played cards and watched movies and ate until we couldn't eat anymore. Wrigley and Bailey got loved on and we got to spend quality time with family that we don't get to see very often.

It was just the type of weekend I needed and I'm ready to do it again in two weeks with my family!

Do you get two Thanksgivings? It is the best!

PS: December's topic for The Lovely Lookbook is: Winter go-to look! Get ready to link up on December 1st!

Linking up with Leann and Kimberlee!

Holiday Recap and More!

Hello! I am back and three pounds heavier. Partially because of turkey, but mostly because my heart is so full! This last week was just what I needed. A heavy dose of family, food, and fun. Let the recap begin!

Wednesday I got a massage, went to Hobby Lobby, had lunch with a friend, and shopped on Amazon for three hours for Christmas gifts. It was a great start to the Thanksgiving break.

Thursday we headed to my cousin's house for a full day of festivities. Chris and my little cousin Jacob started the day off right by checking out the Black Friday ads. Two peas in a pod, I tell ya!

While the boys were all serious about shopping, Abby and I were busy taking silly pictures. There is nothing better than pictures with a two year old. The picture above had me cracking up. I told her to say "cheese" and this is what she did. Love it!

I got no pictures of the food or desserts because I was too hungry to even think about it. We had everything imaginable for the 17 people at the house. It has been said that people consume around 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day. I completely agree! I ate my weight in green bean casserole and stuffing.

After everyone entered their food-coma and had a chance to let the first wave of lunch digest, it was time for family games. My family is all about Catch Phrase and it gets so competitive between the girls and the boys. I am proud to say the girls went undefeated!

On our way home we decided to brave the crowd at Target. We walked away one item that I can't mention because my Mom reads my blog...and a couple other things that weren't even on sale. The parking lot was full, but it wasn't to crazy inside.

Friday I met back up with my cousins and Aunt and we shopped all. day. long. ULTA, Target, Wal-Mart, Cabela's, back to Target, HomeGoods, TJ Maxx, Kirklands, and the list goes on. I can say one thing...I am donedonedone Christmas shopping. We have to get my father-in-law one more gift and then we are done.

When I got home Friday night we pulled out all the Christmas decorations. About ten minutes in, I was over the whole decorating thing and just wanted to sit. So, instead of decorating, I put on some Christmas music and wrapped all our gifts.

Now that the shopping and wrapping is done, I can sit back and enjoy the holiday season!

Saturday we got up and headed to the McKinney Home for the Holidays on the McKinney Square. We met our friends and the coffeehouse called Snug for breakfast. If you are ever in McKinney and want to go to the most precious coffeehouse, Snug is it. We walked around and went into the little shops around the square, including Kendi's store, Bloom. My friend Caitlin and I chatted with Kendi (she is so stinkin' sweet and funny!) for a bit, while the husbands talked "man stuff."

The rest of Saturday was spent laying on the couch watching Christmas movies. I think I could do that all day, every day.

Sunday started with church and then our super exciting trip to Wal-Mart. We walked out of there $114 poorer and now have a kitchen full of tuna, tuna helper, and $1 frozen meals. #nevergotowalmartwhenyouarehungry

After we unpacked our groceries into the refrigerator, we went for round 12 of Thanksgiving leftovers. It was just as delicious as it was Thursday. A slight food-coma came after our meal, but Chris was quick to get us up and out in the front yard.

I trimmed back all of our flowers that died a couple weeks ago when it froze, pulled weeds, killed ants, cussed when ants tried to kill me, raked mulch, and emptied out flower pots because I failed to keep the flowers alive.

Chris covered the one tree in our front yard (not pictured) in lights and we put our Christmas yard out out. It was a very productive afternoon!

I wish vacation lasted forever, but I guess it is back to the grind until Christmas break! Being a teacher is not too shabby :)

How was your holiday?!

Linking up with Sami's Shenanigans, Life of Meg, and Leeann & Kimberlee!

Turkey Coma Round One

You are getting a heavy dose of pictures and a light dose of talking for today's post because I am still in a turkey coma. 

This weekend we celebrated Thanksgiving with Chris's family, so basically I will be like a little stuffed piggy for the next week and a half. No shame here. We gorged ourselves on turkey, ham, and all the sides. It was basically like heaven.

How was your weekend?!

Linking up with Sami's Shenanigans, Life of Meg, and Leeann & Kimberlee!

Days 21-27: What I am Thankful For

I kept a running post on what I am thankful for. Here is the compilation. Can you believe this weekend it will be DECEMBER?!? Wowza!

Day 21: Today I am thankful for not having to go to the grocery store. Seriously, have you seen that place, ehhh zoo??

Someone had to put Turkey on the table! Ok, this was two years ago, but the picture was relevant!

 Day 22: THANKSGIVING. 'Nuff said.

Day 23: Today I am thankful for elastic waste bands. Seriously. After all I ate on Day 22, there was no way I was putting jeans on.

Day 24: I am so very thankful for a wonderful weekend in the Hill Country visiting my family. Love them to pieces.

Day 25: I am thankful that my super-smart-planner-self bought Christmas decorations last year the day after Christmas, that way Chris and I would have decorations for this year...since it will be our first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs. Whoop! (No, I am not an Aggie!) He proposed December 17th, 2011, so I knew we would be married for Christmas 2012.

Day 26: I am thankful for the motivation to get back into working out thanks to a little (actually long) race that my sister-in-law asked me to run with her. If I don't post on December 16th it is because I died running 9.3 miles. Details on the race we are running to come later this week!

Day 27: I am thankful for my sister-in-law being born 22 years ago today! Happy Birthday, Laurs! You da bestest sista in de whole wide world!

I will wrap up the "What I am Thankful For" series on Friday, aka the last day in November for those of you living under a rock :)

a lot to be thankful for: thanksgiving 2012

This Thanksgiving was ah-maze-ing to say the least. I mean, isn't any day that you don't have to go to work a great day?! This was my first Thanksgiving as a married woman and Chris and I decided we were going to celebrate with my family. We have celebrated with his family the last two years, so my family it was!

One sucky thing about Thanksgiving: traffic. How do you avoid it? You leave Thanksgiving morning instead of Wednesday afternoon like every. other. person. in. America. We woke up early Thursday to make the four hour trip south and it was such a nice drive. Driving with this view reminded Chris and I we have SO MUCH to be thankful for.

We were in Austin (almost to my parent's house!) and this was the look Wrigley gave me.


"Seriously Mom, how much longer?!?!"

Once we got to my parent's it was full help-Mom-do-whatever-she-needs mode.

I had to make chocolate pie for Chris. Ok, here is the story on that. His Mawmaw makes him chocolate pie every year for Thanksgiving and it is his FAVORITE. He literally eats a whole one by himself. For an appetizer. Anyways, I wanted to make him one since we wouldn't be seeing his family this year. I got the recipe from Mawmaw and...ummm...I am embarrassed to say that it was terrible. It was runny and clumpy and (insert 1000 other words to describe a terribly made pie) I completely failed. I was so bummed. I think I will need another lesson from Mawmaw on how she makes her famous pie because mine was famously horrible.

Once I got over the fact that pies are not my expertise, I helped with whatever needed to be done. Finally, it was time to stuff-your-face-as-much-as-humanly-possible. Oh wait...this is my husband BEFORE we ate...



I guess the drive wore him out...

The below picture was the only picture I got because I was too busy...well, stuffing my face! Those dishes were my great-great grandfather's. I inherited them, but they are still living in my closet at my parents. Mom decided to whip them out for this special occasion. My clumsy self almost dropped them 10 times and just about gave everyone a heart-attack.

In attendance was Chris and I, my parents, brother, maternal grandparents, Granddad, my Aunt Susan, and her two kids, Erin and Austin. It was a great group!

This was the first Thanksgiving since my Meme's passing and I would be lying if I said it wasn't tough. The emotions hit me the night before we left. I couldn't sleep and for some reason all I could think about was Meme and how I so wish she was still here. I laid silently and a few tears fell until I drifted to sleep. Fast forward to Thursday on our drive down there. We were about 20 minutes from my parent's and I had a breakdown. Luckily I have the best husband ever and he reminded me to think of the good times and keep my spirits high.

Although Meme is no longer here, I am so blessed to have this man as my Granddad. Here is Sam, me, Granddad, Erin and Austin.



After we ate, there was a lot of this going on.

Yes, those are Buckee's boxers that I am wearing. Buckee's is the bomb. End of story. I changed after we ate due to the fact that my stomach grew 3x its normal size and my jeans were no longer comfortable. C'mon, everyone has that problem on Thanksgiving, right??

I got to spend a lot of time with this little angel.



Friday night my brother had a playoff football game. If you follow me on Instagram (sarahtuckerup) you saw that he won! Proud big sister right here. He is a senior this year, and quarterback of the football team, and I am so stinkin' proud of him. I hope they win this weekend so I can make it next week to cheer him on again!

After his game we had family game night with all the cousins. We stayed up until 3:30 AM playing Catch Phrase. THREE THIRTY IN THE MORNING. I don't know about y'all, but even in college I didn't stay up that late. It was so fun. My throat hurt the next morning because of the intense laughing that was happening the night before.

Saturday morning Chris and I headed back to Dallas. We are just so grateful to have had such a wonderful holiday.

Sunday was full Christmas mode. I can't wait to show y'all our decorations and all of my Christmas DIY projects!!

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful.

Have a great Monday :)

Day 13 - 20: What I am Thankful For

Geez life has been so busy, but no need to fret! I am still super thankful for so many things in my life! Here we go...

Day 13: I am thankful for my health. Besides a few bumps and bruises along the way, I have be blessed with great health for me and my loved ones.

Day 14: I am thankful for growing up playing sports. Sports taught me life lessons that I use everyday. How to be a team player, competitiveness, dedication and drive all stem from years of playing sports.

Day 15: I am thankful for having a reliable car. Texas is a big state, so getting from point a to point b is not a "walk in the park." Thankfully my car is in great shape and gets the job done!

Day 16: I am thankful for my work friends. You spend most of your week with people who you aren't even related to, so you might as well like them. Luck for me many of them have become friends that I will have for a lifetime.

Day 17: I am thankful for TV. Seriously. Between working and studying for graduate school it is nice to be able to lay around and watch "mindless" television every once in awhile. RHOBH anyone?? 

Day 18: I am thankful for date nights with my husband. Lately we have been getting home from work, putting on Christmas music (I know, too early...), cooking together, and just sitting and enjoying being with one another.

Day 19: I am thankful for my Mom teaching me how to cook when I was little. I make dinner almost every night of the week. I can't imagine getting take out or not having a home cooked meal on a regular basis. It isn't always good for my waistline, but it sure makes me happy to know that I cooked a delicious meal for me and the hubs!

Day 20: I am thankful for blogging. Blogging has been an outlet for me to let me mind wander from accounting work and grad school and just think about whatever. It is quite like therapy, but free :)

Days 7-12: What I Am Thankful For

Day 7: I am thankful for my Daddy. Yes, no matter how old I get he will always be my "Daddy." November 7th is his birthday and there isn't a more deserving man than him. He is my best bud, and will always shoot me straight. I will always be your little girl. Love you!

Day 8: I am thankful for being able to purchase a home with my amazing husband. Through God, prayer, and a whole lotta number crunchin' we were able to purchase our dream starter home. I constantly have to pinch myself to realize that we are homeowners. Eeek! Decorating it has been oh so fun!

Day 9: I am thankful for my puppies, Wrigley and Bailey. Gosh they literally make my heart melt all. the. time. No matter what they do (like dig a whole under our fence into our neighbors yard - so sorry Grant and Amber!) their faces are so innocent and they are like my children. It is scary to think I could love two four-legged goobers as much as I love those little mutts! Imangine when I have human children...oh my heart will be so big!  

Day 10: I am thankful for growing up in the country. As much as I could never move back to my teeny-tiny town (having Starbucks and a mall a couple miles away is something I refuse to give up), I will always appreciate the small town feel. Friday night football games and dirt roads will always feel like home, but sometimes you have to move on to bigger and better things. I will always be thankful for that little town that shaped me into the person I am today.

Day 11: I am thankful for my college education. I think graduating college in three years may have been a little too quick (stretch it out people! the real world is not all it is cracked up to be!), but I am blessed to have had the opportunity to obtain a wonderful education and go on to pursue my master's degree.

Day 12: I am thankful for growing up with all four of my grandparents. Although my Meme is no longer with us, I have still gotten to share my life with four of the greatest people to ever walk the face of the earth. Some people never get to meet all their grandparents, so I am BEYOND blessed to have had over two decades with all four of mine.