Howdy Y'all!

Well hello there! Hope you all had a great Christmas holiday! If you're back to work today, sooo sorry for you for not being able to spend the day relaxing after all that good food! If you had the luxury of not working today (like me!), I hope you're having a fun relaxing day!

We are actually in Texas for the week with our football staff and players for our bowl game. We play the Longhorns this Saturday at the Alamo Bowl! We've been so blessed to be here taking part in the festivities each and every day. Yes, I am still super duper home sick, but I'm also super duper thankful for the opportunity we have of even being here with our football family!

I can't wait to show off my pics to you that I've snapped away of San Antonio! We're actually staying on the Riverwalk, which is just the most adorbs place ever, espeically at night time when the lights are twinkling and the horse carriages are crossing over the bridge! BUT, I don't wanna overwhelm you with a photo dump... not with this beautiful scenery, so I'll try and take it slow!... starting with Christmas!

Christmas Eve, hubs and I found a church right up the street from where we're staying, and attended midnight service. B E A U T I F U L I tell ya!!! They had a German choir there singing Christmas carols in German... so angelic to our ears!

On Christmas day, we had dinner with the entire football family on the Riverwalk, which is where I snapped a pic of Santa coming down on a boat. There is a small river that flows in the middle of shops at the Riverwalk... which is just stunning!

How did you all celebrate Christmas Eve and day?

More to come on Texas this week! Y'all come back now, ya hear??! 

Merry Christmas!

M E R R Y * C H R I S T M A S * B L O G G E T T E S !!!

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CHRISTmas means...
* Giving praise and glory to our Heavenly Father for the birth of his son, Jesus Christ
* Spending this time with family and loved ones as we celebrate a wonderful year together
* Giving back as much as we are able to... to those that are less fortunate, and to those who need uplifting
* Going to church and listening to the kiddos sing their little hearts away
* Caroling and spreading Christmas cheer to others

Muuurrrrrrrrrry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!

Friday Five

TGIF!!! Last Friday before Christmas, and last weekend to get your last minute shopping doneZO if it's not already done!

Today, I'm saluting to Friday by counting the top five fave things of my week! Cheers to a High Five for Friday with Lauren at From My Grey Desk.

:: one ::
I got some holiday baking accomplished over the weekend, and enjoyed a new recipe of peanut butter truffles!

:: two ::

Our first winter snow called for an early White Christmas as it snowed all day long!

:: three ::
I got to Facetime with my o'hana this week, and spent some good ol' QT with the kiddos... who I have been missing OOBERLY!!! 

:: four ::

Followed one of Rachel Ray's 30-minute meals, and had a superb simple dimple chicken parmesan meal this week (with a glass of white wine, or course!)

:: five ::

Our doggies were going bananas this week with their cray cray poses! Marley couldn't decide which couch to stand on, and Moana mistakened her Papa's foot as a pillow!

What are some of your faves from your week? Link up with Lauren and share em!

Words of Wisdom

As many of you gals know, I've been diggin deep for some inpiration and encouragement lately. It's always a help for me to get some Pinspiration on Pinterest!

I'm linking up with days-away-from-mom-to-be Michelle at The Vintage Apple for an OHP!

Source: google.com via Beverly on Pinterest

Source: bbc.co.uk via Lauren on Pinterest

Source: 27.media.tumblr.com via Molly on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Danielle on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Beverly on Pinterest

What have you all been pinning?? Don't you just love the category, "Quotes?" Link up with Michelle for an Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday!

Sweet Love

You know it's the holidays when the oven never shuts off, and you're baking your life away on the weekends! We had a few dinners to go to, so I made a few of these Italian White Wine cakes to take along with us! The key ingredient to this bunt cake.... the white wine glaze. Oh em gee... melt-in-your mouth slap-my-butt-no-way kinda good!

I also had the pleasure meeting some girlfraaannnnds for lunch yesterday, which was just what I needed!! Good laughs + great company and goodies = one superb Monday FUNday! I made for the first time in my life peanut butter truffles, which just melted in your mouth.

And here are some of the goodies I took home! These cookies aren't just any cookies people! They're cowboy cookies with the hugest chocolate chips evahhhh! And my gal pal totes made her own caramel that were so scrummy it wasn't even funny (yes.. past tense because they are now goneZO!). WOWSERS is all my tummy has to say!

And of course, none of these sweet things have calories (that count around this holiday season!), which makes em even more delish! What are some of your sweet treat faves??

P.S. Thanks for all your sweet comments yesterday.... you helped lift my spirits, and I la la love you all!

Encouragement

I ain't gonna front...  last week was a hard one for me! Tried to stay positive, and keep my mind stimulated, but I tell ya'... it wasn't an easy thing to do (or even try to do!). As the holidays approach us closer and closer, I get more and more home/family sick. I miss them. I miss being home with everyone. I miss the kiddos. Sooooo today, I'm asking for some encouraging words, which you guys excel at during times like these! Not only encouragement for myself, but for others close and afar from me. In Connecticut, in Samoa, in Cali, in Oregon... errrrywhere!

Though I ask you guys for some encouragement, I still was able to pull out what I loved, learned, and laughed about last week. Here are my LLL's!

LOVE

I love the little kiddos in my family even more after the tragic events went down last week...still thinking about those families that need our prayers who lost their young children

LEARN

This past week, I learned that my husband has my back through thick and thin... all I need to do is talk to him! It's something I will probably continuously learn throughout my entire life.

LAUGH

My little brother called me to give me a snippet of his Christmas show at school (bottom line his incentive was a trip to the toy store). He sang All I Want for Christmas is You and after a verse and chorus, I cheered with some hoots and hollers and he says..."WAIT! I'm not even done yet!" LOL he's got the spirit!

What did you love, learn and laugh about last week???

Prayers UP for Paradise

First glance at this picture and you probably think something along the lines of gorgeousness (as I sure did!).... Sadly, the gorgeousness has been in jeopardy over the past 24 hours. There's been breaking news of Cyclone Evan hitting our homeland of Samoa, and headed out to Fiji and Tonga this upcoming weekend.

My MIL left about a week ago for Samoa, and she's been keeping us updated with their status... so far, they're aye-okay and staying off the flooded roads filled with debris and coconut trees. I'm sharing the news with you all, along with some photos, asking that you please please please say a quick prayer for the families and our island as they go through this cyclone, and the aftermath. Thank you soooo much my bloggy friends!

**All photos are taken by Jordan Kwan Photography, courtesy of South Pacific.

I pray the Lord blesses His merciful hands among our family and homeland. I pray that He will protect them and bless them all with the strength to support one another as they go through this natural disaster...AMEN.

Tulle and Bows and Sparkles, OH MY!

Happy Wednesday my lovies! Hump day means mid-week parlayyyy... which means it's all downhill from here until we cheers to another fantab weekend!

I'm super stoked to link up with Mama-to-be Michelle from The Vintage Apple for an Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday! I know time has passed and Pinterest has probably died down for many. For me, I will always be a Pinterest fan!

Lately, I've been pinning some holiday wear that is totes getting me in the Christmas party mood! Enjoy the sparkles and tulle!!

Source: beautyriot.com via Beverly on Pinterest

Source: fashforfashion.com via Beverly on Pinterest

Source: homeanddelicious.blogspot.com via Beverly on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Beverly on Pinterest

Source: rstyle.me via Beverly on Pinterest

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Source: fashforfashion.com via Beverly on Pinterest

Source: katespade.com via Beverly on Pinterest

What have you guys been pinning? Link up over there at The Vintage Apple and share the happs!

Fa la la la la

Jammin to Christmas music and lip singing with my head motioning the high and low ranges has been my THANG lately. Okay... lately for the past month kinda' lately. I LOVE Christmas music!! Nothing takes me back to my childhood like it!

I love how a song can take me back to decorating the tree with my family at my grandma's house

... Or remind me of how we used to go see Santa (who conventiently lived down the street from us) every single year and take pictures sitting on his sleigh

... Or take me back to being an elf helping my Aunts wrap every single gift that came out of the neverending sack in her room, and being "surprised" when she told me I was wrapping my own gift...

That's the gift of music... any kind of music at that, but my fave being Holiday music! My all time fave (as I'm sure goes the same for most of you) is the Mariah Carey Merry Christmas CD! BUT... I must say that my list of faves has grown, thanks to Pandora. I've been listening to Mariah Carey Holiday Radio, which plays a GREAT variety!! My fave artists on that station??...sooo glad you asked!

• John Legend
• Christina Aguilera
• Kelly Clarkson
• Carrie Underwood
• The Eagles
• Brian McKnight
• Stevie Wonder
• Michael Buble
• Martina McBride

Being that I LOVE all types of music (as you can see from the list above)... you must spill!! What artists are your faves for Christmas music? Any suggestions to Pandora Christmas stations?

Source: Uploaded by user via Kelly on Pinterest

Friendship

One of the most important things in my life is friendship. 

Friends have been there to lean on through thick and thin. 

Friends support me no matter what decisions I make in life. 

Friends pick me up when I am down.

Friends get me through tough times alive and strong.

Friends are forgiving and understanding.

Friends mean the WORLD to me!

I always say that my family are my friends... which is my strongest foundation of friends no matter what! BUT as I look back and reflect on my friendships throughout my life, I realize that I've had many friends which I hold fond memories with... friends from grade school... friends from undergrad and grad school... friends from work... friends from my sorority... friends from softball... errrrrrwhere I tell ya!

And I love that my friendship horizon just keeps on expanding... in the blogosphere... at work... in my workouts... FRIENDS ARE EVERYWHERE!!!

Their encouraging words have helped me get through some tough times, especially lately. I appreciate the motivation and encouragement they continuously give me. Those words help me get through each and every day with a bit more of understanding than I had yesterday.

I love my friends, and want to hug each and every one of them. They deserve the world for what they stand for... but until I can afford the world, my words and sense of gratitude will have to do! I intend to pay it forward and be there for my friends, as they have all been there for me!

What can get you more giddy on a Monday morning other than listening to the infamous friendship song?!

And of course, my LLL's of the week...

LOVE

I love that my family is in the works of setting up some Christmas caroling and dinner donating to families that are less fortunate than others. Tis the season... and my family never forgets to spread holiday cheer to others who need it around these times.

LEARN

I learned that in order to make a difference in life, you can't keep doing the same things. To make a change, you must start with yourself... and that I plan to work on!

LAUGH

I had a great laugh when I received this picture of this lil/big one sleeping while lounging! HA HA

How was your weekend? What did you love, learn and laugh about??