I Cook Turkey Now.

Thanksgiving 2017, I will never forget you, because you are the first year that I cooked the Thanksgiving turkey and IT WAS GOOD. I love WIlliams Sonoma for that meat thermometer. I love the internet for the zillions of recipes available. And I love my mom for letting me cook it this year (although she did ask me about 20 times how my cooking plan was coming along. WOMEN FOLK.) I stuffed that turkey full of butter and citrus fruit and the heavens parted in my mouth. Oh bless.

Thanksgiving 2017, I also won't forget you because you are the year that my son went down for a nap at 2pm AND NEVER WOKE UP FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT. All that fresh air and playing with Daddy outside must have really gotten to him, because he napped the whole way through, only to wake up at 10pm to ask me to change him into his jammies. Then he crawled back into bed.

Thanksgiving 2017, I ate too much dessert.

Which is fine, because another round of Whole30 is coming in January. So I feel justified in my partying like a college freshmen until then.

Thanksgiving 2017, thank you for bringing my family together around my recently re-painted dining room table. Thank you for my Grandma's china, my mom's red table runner, my brother-in-law's mother's dining room furniture, and my own wine glasses. Which we ran out of. Because my family likes to drink all the wine and then have all the laughs. And then play all the board games.

Thanksgiving 2017, I love you to pieces and I am so grateful, so so so so SO grateful, to live in a place where I can live in all kinds of freedom and health. I can worship my Lord and Savior,  I can raise my children how I see fit, I can work and be home with my kids and listen to the new Taylor Swift album while I exercise and write my heart out on the Internet and call my sisters whenever I want AND SEE THEIR FACES (thanks FaceTime) and enjoy friendships and Starbucks and oh gosh I could go on and on and on. 

Thanksgiving 2017, I loved you for real, especially because now you've ushered in the official holiday season and my Christmas tree is staring at me, all glowy and starry-eyed. I'm ready to crush this season with my holly-jolly joy. And with unending movie marathons for all the most terrible Christmas romantic comedies out there. Thanks Thanksgiving, and thanks Netflix. ;)

Father's Day Gift Guide.

Fatherhood. It impacts the whole world, doesn't it?

While gifts might seem like a trite way to honor the men who have poured their lives into their families, it's still fun to give something that shows our appreciation for their investment. I rounded up this gift guide with a wide variety of good guys in mind. My dad, my husband, my father-in-law and bros-in law - these are all gifts that suit their tastes and needs (in my opinion, ha.) Hope this helps if you're stumped on what to give this weekend! Don't make it another year of socks and a tie!

Himalayan Salt Plate

Leather Planner

Soy Atlas Candle

Mini Photo Book

Luxe Touch Polo

Saints of Old Florida

BBQ Tools Set

Eno Hammock

Pine Tree Print

Dollar Shave Club

Pocket Knife

Pro V1 Golf Balls

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Williams Sonoma Himalayan Salt Plate
Yum. This little contraption adds flavor to anything you throw on the grill, and can be used over and over again.

Dapper Desk Leather Planner
What dude doesn't need a manly planner? Made of supple leather and small enough to not be annoying, this little book can be kept on the desk or thrown into the briefcase and never again will an appointment be lost :) I have the feminine version of this planner and it's been a lifesaver for me this year.

Lindbergh Company Candle in Atlas Scent
My friend Savannah and her hubby make these ridiculously chic candles, and the Atlas scent is by far the manliest smelling candle I've ever whiffed. If you live in the Atlanta area, you can snag one of these bad boys at Citizens Supply in Ponce City Market like I did (this is my favorite of their collection!)

Chatbooks Mini Photo Book
So easy to make - just upload your favorite Instagrams, click "print" and in two days you have an adorable little book in your mail box! Such a great way to immortalize your favorite Insta snaps. We may or may not have done one of these...

Banana Republic Luxe-Touch Polo
This is by far Stevie's favorite polo shirt. The material and the tailoring are just perfect. This is a surefire gift idea, and also - they're on sale right now! We are such a Banana family.

Saints of Old Florida Lifestyle Book
I can't talk about this book too much because I'll cry again, but my friend Emily co-authored this gorgeous piece of coastal-inspired literature and I'm so proud of her. It strikes home for me because it's about a place in Florida that my family AND Stevie's family has vacationed for over twenty years. Needless to say, this is also being gifted in our family this year!

Williams Sonoma Grill Set
Necessary man tools. Need I say more?

Eno Hammock
If your man is outdoorsy, this hammock should be in his arsenal of camp gear. It's lightweight and apparently "the hammock to have", according to my bro-in-law.

Scoutmob Pine Tree Print
If your dad/husband spend a lot of time in their office, why not dress it up with some earth prints? I thought these were super cool.

Dollar Shave Club Membership
Apparently this is a gift box that guys will actually thinkis cool. Because Stevie told me so. And he isn't into cutesy stuff.

Klein Tools Pocket Knife
Klein is a legit brand for man tools because my dad says so. And he grew up on a horse farm. And what man doesn't need a good pocket knife for whatever they need pocket knives for? #manessentials

Titliest Pro V1 Golf Balls
This is the king of golf balls. So if your man is like mine (or like my dad!) and loves to get out there on Saturday morning and goof off on the course, definitely some of these his way.

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Happy gifting and celebrating this weekend, friends! Comment below with any other gift ideas!
 

Wonder, Waffle Makers and Adulting.

So we gave our son a waffle maker. Technically, this was our "family" Valentines gift, since it was ridiculously marked down at Williams Sonoma and since our son eats an insane amount of waffles. But we let him open it because, lets face it, kids are just really fun to watch open presents. This time was no exception. Everett had no idea what was in that box all wrapped up pretty with paper and a bow, but he sure liked figuring out how to unwrap it, with Daddy's assistance, of course.

This isn't really about the waffle maker though. There was something especially striking to me about Everett's demeanor as I watched him open this particular gift - an unfeigned wonder. He was genuinely thrilled about the present because he had NO IDEA what could be inside. He didn't know that the paper was from Williams Sonoma and he didn't know that the box stating "Breville" meant it had anything to do with kitchenware (or his favorite food!) He didn't know to be anything but himself, opening that gift. He didn't fake his reaction. He didn't think, "I can return this and get a gift card". He didn't have to like the gift at all. He just had to be himself and open it and for me, it was such a joy to watch it. Did I think I would get a strange reaction from my toddler opening up a waffle maker as a gift? Oh sure. That was like half the fun. I mean, what is a kid supposed to think about that? It's not a ball or a truck or a train. It's a waffle maker. I actually think he "got it" a little more than we anticipated. Once the gift was unwrapped, we explained how we would make his waffle in it and he seemed to understand. You guys, he really loves waffles.

As a side note, he definitely understands the concept now. He waits for it to heat up (completely impatiently) and once it beeps, indicating it is pre-heat ready for batter, he almost loses his mind with glee. "WAFFLE. WAFFLE. WAFFLE MOMMY!!!" He points, practically with his whole body, while I pour in the batter and, you know, let it do its thing.

Letting my son open this gift opened my eyes to the simplicity of a child's wonder. If only I could bottle it up and take it myself. I guess we adults would call that naivety - a grown up experiencing life with a childlikeness. But there is something about that spark, I wish I could naturally summon up a bit more wonder in my own heart for the things around me. I wish that opening up my laptop gave me the butterflies. Or driving my car made me feel like I'm in the Jetsons. But its Monday and I woke up a little groggy and a little overwhelmed and honestly, a little uninspired. Then I found these few photos and felt the laughter in my heart over such a silly experience- having my son open up a waffle maker as a present - but also the wonder. And I wish for all of you today - a bit of childlikeness that makes you fond again for the things that may seem mundane.

May you feel a sense of wonder today while you go out into the world and, you know, adult with the best of them :)