i love snail mail: watercolor stationary

everyday when i get home from work,

i take raider on his little walk,

go to the mail box,

and hope i have a surprise waiting for me!

usually it's just junk mail,

but every so often, a beautiful envelope will be there waiting for me.

i love snail mail!

i love having cute stationary to send notes to friends or include with gifts.

i know how much a little note can change my day, 

and i love being able to share that feeling with others!

do you still write letters?

does snail mail brighten up your day?

visit my etsy shop here: gracefully made designs

let's celebrate with confetti!

nothing says "we love fun" more than confetti!

this suite is a perfect fit for a couple looking to spend their wedding day with friends and family. weddings are a celebration after all!

there is also a coordinating save the date!

i am in love with this new design.

it's so versitile and would be adorable in so many different color combinations.

the little polka dots just make my heart so happy.

The Boat Song

you may or may not know, but the traditional first anniversary gift is paper.

bub-hub and i are not typically traditional gift givers,

but for our first wedding anniverary we both stuck with tradition.

i was formally invited, via movie tickets created by bub-hub, to watch our wedding slideshow and videos, with a yummy bottle of wine.

and i created this print for us to hang in our bedroom.

 

although it's not our official song,

it is the song that makes me tear up everytime i really listen to it.

#mushygushy

watch the music video and try not to fall in love.

i dare you.

 

this print is now available in my etsy shop!

check me out! :)

 

 

sweet celebrations always include dancing and cake

last weekend, my sweet sister-in-law became a wife!

picture the most beautiful bride and groom, both inside and out,

and you've met the hamiltons!

#perfectnightforaperfectpair

i didn't get many photos because i was too busy eating tons of yummy cake and showing off my dance moves, but just trust me:

it was the most beautiful wedding you've ever seen!

 

my family joined the festivities and of course, tore up the dance floor.

#theakerlyfamilybringstheparty

bub-hub was quite the stud and danced the night away right by my side.

i love this man.

isn't he so handsome?!

 

so blessed to have a husband with such a sweet family.

i love them more and more each day.

 

 

back to reality

today, i am officially reentering the real world.

am i the only one who feels a down the first few days after vaca?

the last ten days have been full of fun, laughter, and celebration.

two beautiful weddings, time with family, sleeping on the beach in cancun,

eating too much guacamole and sipping yummy margaritas.

o mexico, you are the bomb[dot]com.

the real world is pretty fantastic too though.

i'm excited to start fresh and see what the week will bring.

bring it on houston.

 

 

time for tea

maybe i've been sucked too deep into the downton abbey vortex,

but i am loving tea parties.

i'd love nothing more than to sit on a beautiful patio with a hot cup of tea, cranberry scones, and my sweet friends.

#cantbeatthat

today, i'd like to introduce you to the newest addition to my etsy shop:

gracefully made designs

are you hooked on downton?

do you love tea and scones as much as i do?

 

 

wooooohoooo! happy friday ya'll!

 happy friday ya'll! :)

this week,

[1] i went to the eli young band concert with bub hub and some sweet friends,

[2] enjoyed my new favorite drink, la croix, cran-raspberry,

[3] laughed way to hard at cheesy jokes on twitter,

[4] taught raider how to g-chat and online shop,

[5] and jammed to some justin timberlake.

 

how was your week?

does your puppy like to g-chat?

 

happy 2013!

2012 was a pretty fantastic year.

i married my best friend,

gained a new family,

traveled to mexico,

met new friends,

moved into a new apartment,

adopted our best friend, raider,

and so much more.

i'm feeling pretty good about 2013.

 

a candlelight tradition

Source: livin-on-lovee.tumblr.com via Lindsey on Pinterest

 

for as long as i can remember,

my family has spent christmas eve attending a candlelight service.

different families take turns standing at the front of the church reading pieces of the christmas story and the musicians sing beautiful christmas songs.

at the end of the service,

everyone lights their candle while we all sing silent night.

it's so beautiful and so peaceful.

the perfect way to remember the true meaning of season.

 

do you have a chrismas eve tradition?

 

thankful thursday

Source: wordsbyminna.tumblr.com via Sarah Grace on Pinterest

 

today, i am thankful for:

a sweet puppy who is finally feeling better,

for time off from work,

for fudge and christmas cookies,

for sparkly manicures,

for an encouraging and patient bub-hub,

for earl grey tea lattes from starbucks.

 

this is the last thankful thursday for 2012, so link up below!

<center><br /><a href="http://www.gracefullymadedesigns.com/2012/11/thankfulthursday.html"><img border="0" src="http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s393/SarahGraceChastain/200thankfulthursday.png" /></a></center><br />< /textarea>

 

insanity....check!

one: sweet raider and his sweater.

i know, he's the cutest.

#sorryi'mnotsorry

two: my favorite christmas song from my favorite christmas cd. 

[listen to it,,,you know you want to]

three: last weekend, my sweet mama helped me sew up our stockings! i'm obsessed with them, and i can't wait to see what santa leaves in them on christmas eve! :)

four: mmmmmm.....yummy yummy raisin bread. perfect breakfast treat.

five: i did it people. this morning,

i completed insanity!!!

my poor tennies are ready for a break.

i'm looking forward to a month of hot yoga and sitting.

and christmas cookies. and fudge.

 

how was your week?

have you finished your christmas shopping?

  

a post about peppermint

 peppermint is a go-to holiday flavor.

just warms me up all over just thinking about it!

 

there are so many ways you can use peppermint around the holidays:

peppermint bark,

Source: marthastewart.com via Sarah Grace on Pinterest

peppermint sugar scrub,

Source: inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com via Sarah Grace on Pinterest

peppermint stir sticks for hot cocoa,

Source: itswrittenonthewalls.blogspot.com via Sarah Grace on Pinterest

and my favorite...peppermint ice cream,

Source: acouplecooks.com via Keyuri on Pinterest

and don't forget yummy peppermint icing for cupcakes, or for your spoon...

Source: toostinkincute.blogspot.com via Sarah Grace on Pinterest

what is your favorite holiday flavor?

do you love icing as much as i do?

our advent calendar: a christmas tradition

every december that i can remember,

my brothers and i would take turns putting the felt ornament on our felt tree each day.

each year, we would rotate the order we went in so that we each got a chance to put the santa ornament on the tree on christmas eve.

i know there are a lot of different types of advent calendars out there,
but this is the one i grew up with,
and i couldn't imagine celebrating christmas without it.
for a hot second, i thought about making one myself,
until i had a meltdown in the felt aisle of hobby lobby.
too many details for a saturday morning.
luckily, i stumbled upon this one on etsy.
#meanttobe #christmasmiracle

now, bub-hub and i will get to start our own tradition of arguing over sharing who gets to put santa on the tree on christmas eve.

do you have an advent calendar?
what is your favorite christmas tradition?


don't forget to link up this week for thankful thursday!
 

a beautiful and warm weekend

i'm having difficulty believing it's really december.

it's so warm.

i'm still wearing shorts.
#thisisntflorida

even though i think it is completely wrong that it is 85* outside in december,

the warm weather does have a few benefits.

bub-hub and i spent saturday afternoon at the golf course.

beautiful day to spend in the sunshine!

raider spent his saturday afternoon on the patio.

from our patio, you can see the sidewalk, and raider loves to watch and talk to all the people that pass by. #creeperstatus

saturday night, 

raider helped us deck the halls.

what can i say,

the puppy has a gift for holiday decorations!

 our mini tree:

how was your weekend?

are you still wearing shorts in december?

happy friday!

the week following a holiday tends to last forever.

especially when the weather is beautiful,

and especially when you have a cute puppy waiting for you at home.

one: sweet raider and his giant rope. that boy loves to chew, and i'm grateful it's not my shoes!

two: we didn't win the lottery jack pot,,,,did you?

three: my favorite christmas cd: chris tomlin, glory in the highest.

four: my mom found these super cute gift tags, looks just like raider with a santa beard!

five: i love my family! great photo op at the tech/baylor game last weekend. according to my brother, the bears don't kill their opponents, they only bruise them, because the Bible says murder is wrong.

#privateschoolproblems

 

how was your week?

 

 

thankful thursday

Source: shannamurray.typepad.com via Sarah Grace on Pinterest

today, i am thankful for:

a loving bub-hub that makes yummy chili,

a sweet puppy that doubles as a perfect cuddle buddy,

the charlie brown special on tv,

ugg boots and sweatpants.

what are you thankful for?

<center><br /><a href="http://www.gracefullymadedesigns.com/2012/11/thankfulthursday.html"><img border="0" src="http://i1049.photobucket.com/albums/s393/SarahGraceChastain/200thankfulthursday.png" /></a></center><br />< /textarea>