colorbutton holiday

I've finally started adding new holiday designs to colorbutton!

craving the holidays

The Christmas boxes are open- open, but not quite unpacked. I’m restraining myself until next Saturday, after Halloween, to put up the first glitter reindeer…the first vintage Santa…the first string of garland. Oh, how much magic I have to unveil! The pressure is mounting.

I think it’s because this is the first year I have an actual house to fill with the holiday. This is also the first Christmas that Jonathan and I will be alone, at home, with no family or friends since I can’t travel so close to the due date. So, I really want to make it extra special…extra decorated…and extra festive!

Christmas is just too wonderful to waste on a single month. So, I think it’s going to be stretched to three this year. I know- it’s just a tad ridiculous. But, it sure is pretty!

Here are my latest decorating dilemmas:

1. Large colored bulbs OR white icicle lights to hang outside the house?
2. Fake tree (that we already have) OR purchase a real tree?

I’m dreeeaming of a white Christmasssss!

gorgeous washington fall

orange and pear

A new favorite site for creative gift giving is orange and pear! While the baby gifts have been my favorite, there are so many fun and colorful things to look at. I mean, can you get much cuter than the giraffe hand puppet? Enjoy!

mcdiffett girls descend on seattle

What a whirlwind weekend to come and go. Isn’t it always the case when I get together with sisters! Our second annual McDiffett Sisters Reunion was everything that we knew it would be. The laughing. The eating. The bickering. The stories. The dressing up. The eating out. And, the lounging. We can’t forget about the lounging.

It was such a nice distraction from the normal everyday to have them all here! Dana and Tom flew in from Houston, Megan & Matt from Charlotte (on their way home to Anchorage), Natalie from Anchorage, and Caitlin from Kansas City. Jake also made a surprise visit for one night on his way to Denver!

It was also really nice to have them all here to see my baby belly in action. We took turns feeling my little chickadees kicks, and I made for a good DD the whole weekend. Lucky ducks.

Mom sent her fabulously famous cinnamon rolls for the occasion, and I am now left with one whole box of them. That’s never a safe thing. I also have a fridge full of beer and wine…never something I would have complained about before until I can’t actually drink them.

Another year here - another year gone. Seems like time is moving so quickly these days! It’s interesting to see how everyone is in such a different place than they were one year ago. New distractions. New priorities. Different plans. But, somehow- the same old people. Every time we get together, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to have so very many people to call my family. It’s an extreme comfort, and an extreme joy!

Here are the pics!

falling into fall

It’s Thursday, October 1st- the second official day of fall here in Seattle. That’s according to me. Yesterday I told Jonathan that it was now fall, and he asked me if I got that date off my season calendar. No- that’s just the Hannah barometer analysis.

So, day two of fall- the leaves are crunchy, the one apple growing on the tree in the backyard has turned from green to red overnight, I turned the heat on for the first time in the house, and my once tanned Hawaii skin is now dry and pealing.

The pumpkins are out in snow-plow piles at the grocery store---almost looks like they are flooding out of the doors. I’m thinking- are there really enough people for all of those pumpkins?

The ever-famous pumpkin spice latte is now showing off again at Starbucks, and people are hording the shoe isles in TJ Maxx for a new pair of boots. I found a great new pair myself, but not without a little elbow rubbing. This years’ boot is also a nice half-size bigger than normal due to fabulously swollen pregnant feet.

Jonathan’s task of fixing the gas fireplace has been given a deadline of Saturday morning. He loves being given tasks, by the way. As long as I submit them in bullet points. It’s a consultant thing.

My many many scarves are out and ready. More throw blankets have been added to the couches. My autumn-colored-hair-highlight appointment has been made. Muffins are baking in the oven.

And finally, it is just about time to bring out all of my wintery green wreaths. I’m excited to actually have a real front door now to put one on too!

I can’t stop it any longer. I’m falling into fall.