Saying Goodbye

 

I apologize for my absence on the blog the past few days.. We said goodbye to a wonderful woman last week and even though we were expecting to, it still didn't hurt any less when we did.

 

Thankfully our family rallied around each other and we had a true celebration of the 98 years that God gave us our MeeMa. This independent, bold and incredibly smart woman taught our family more than we will ever truly know. She was more than influential on my mother and later on myself. I hope that I can someday be 1/10th of the woman she was! We love you MeeMa!!

Hey Mama!

You may be getting a good chuckle from the photo above :) but it's a definite favorite of mine. And in honor of this year's Mother's Day I thought I would write a little tribute to my own fantastic mother! My mom was 23 when I was born so to me she always seemed like a cool hip mom. I remember watching her dress for dinner dates with my dad or parties with friends. She always wore fun bright colors, lots of jewelry and great shoes. (I always wanted to wear this one outfit - a gold studded black pant and jacket set - my favorite!) Those memories are still part of when I get ready now. While buying a new dress or a fab pair of heels is always great - I love throwing on old costume jewelry or piling on bangles that remind me of my fashionable mother. But one of my favorite parts of fashion growing up was when I got a new outfit that matched hers! She would buy cute dresses for her and little shorts outfits for me in the same fabric. And even though some may think matching outfits are hilarious - I loved that I could look just like my mom. One of our favorite things to do together was shopping. I loved when I had a special event and she would take me to every store until I found the perfect outfit. She even bought me special nail polish for my first date. :) Shopping is something that we will still do together though now my favorite part of it is helping her look for outfits. I love that now my mom is taking my advice about clothes and jewelry. Funny how the tables can turn...

But I gained a lot more from my mom than just being fashionable or my curly hair - she always taught me to be true to myself, be honest with people and how to be strong, confident and independent. (Ummm check out my posing above - if that isn't confidence, I don't know what is!) She has overcome so many obstacles during her life and she is an inspiration to me. Although she has always been my mom - she's also been my best friend. I have learned so many things from her and I hope that I can only be one tenth of the amazing woman that she is. I know how lucky I am to have both my parents and to be so close with both of them. I'm grateful for those bonds and I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

So Mom, even though I won't be seeing you on Sunday I hope you know I am sending you all my love!!! :)  Make sure you call your moms this weekend and tell them how much you appreciate and love them. Hearing those words probably means more to her than you'll know. Have a great weekend!

Fashion Editorial: Bestie Blues

Missing my girlfriends and dreaming that we could have a photoshoot like this:

How cute are these? Love and miss you my loves! Happy Wednesday... xoxo

images via Fashion Gone Rogue

CHRISTmas :)

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! :) I can't believe December 24th is upon us and then 2009 will be over! Wow these past 365 days have been filled with change and lots of learned lessons. But I am so thankful for everything that God has provided for us and for where we are in our lives. He challenges us every day, making us stronger and more humble than the day before. And especially during this time we are reminded of the birth of his son and the sacrifices he made. Thank you Lord! :)

In a time of rejoicing I am a little bit sad. This year I will be spending my first Christmas without my family ever. Billy and I just could not make it home for Christmas this year (waaaaayyyy too expensive) so we are visiting our family in early January. It will certainly be a different kind of feeling but I am excited to be spending the day with just Billy. It will be some much needed one on one time since we have both been so busy with work lately. My parents have sent us a few packages to open and we are planning on exchanging a few gifts too so our tree looks and feels very homey and Christmas-ey. I have to work all day today (bummer) but tonight we are going to visit Billy's family in Huntington Beach - some of which he hasn't seen in years! I am very excited to meet and get to know everyone - especially Rosemary our host. :)


Then on Christmas Day we will be sleeping in, enjoying orange and cinnamon rolls (family tradition in the Schwartz household) and opening gifts. I am also making my first ever Christmas dinner (make that first ever Holiday dinner for any matter) I got a mini ham for the two of us and plan on making sweet potato casserole, scalloped potatoes, my homemade macaroni and cheese, broccoli casserole, green bean casserole then pecan pie for dessert (that I store bought - because Billy loves it and I would hate to mess that up!) I'll be sure to let you know how this goes... haha


So we wish you a wonderful Christmas and hope that you have safe travels and warmth of family and friends around you these next few days. :) xoxo

image via Web Art Store

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

 

Ok... So I have been trying my hardest to hold back from playing Christmas music, decorating and watching cheesy holiday movies. I tell myself every year that the day after Thanksgiving is the absolute most appropriate time to do all these things and not a second earlier. However I find myself getting so impatient because I just love everything about this Holiday!! So as soon as we got in the car to drive home after Thanksgiving dinner I immediately found the radio station playing Christmas tunes and sang the whole way home (You know Billy really enjoyed that!) I absolutely love this time of year - it is by far my favorite. I love the music, the smells, the food and all the glistening lights and decorations. I have convinced my husband that we will forever and always have a live Christmas tree every single year. (Yay!) The scent is just AH-mazing and I can't imagine ever not having one. Growing up my family always went out and picked the tree together, decorated while listening to music and talking about all the ornaments we had accumulated over the years. My mom always buys a new ornament every year and when she came to visit last week she gave us ours.

Restoration Hardware has these fabulous Metal Letter Ornaments in Gold or Silver. She gave us an R for our last name in the Gold. (I got the S for her!) I'm so excited to hang it on our tree this year.

I also love this time around Thanksgiving and Christmas because it is a constant reminder that we should be thankful for and grateful for what we have. In life it's so easy to feel overwhelmed and bogged down by the everyday things. And lately, I think Billy and I have been feeling these pains more than ever. So it's nice to have a reminder of all the special and wonderful gifts that are given to us! Have a fantastic weekend... xoxo

P.S. The above photo is from Papyrus Stationary my absolute favorite place to get stationary and cards from. Doesn't she just look so Oo-La-La?

Happy Turkey Day!

photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

So even though Food Network is always playing at our house non-stop, I've been watching it even more lately with all this Thanksgiving food preperation! If you know me, you know I love to watch anything that's Martha Stewart or Food Network. But since we won't be going home for Turkey Day this year, we are having a big feast with all our friends here in L.A. So here are a few things that I am thankful for...

My wonderful husband Billy! We are complete polar opposites and sometimes I think it's funny that we are together, but I couldn't imagine my life without him... He is an amazing man and I am so extremely grateful and lucky to have him in my life :)

My wonderful family! (This was the only recent picture of the 4 of us - Christmas 2008) The hardest thing about moving to California has been being far away from the three of them. But I am thankful that we are able to stay close with email, phone calls, webcams and occasional visits. I love them dearly and hope they have a great Thanksgiving!

Here is a photo from our wedding of our entire extended family on both sides. This is one of my favorite pictures that was taken! :) We are thankful to have each of these people in our lives. :)

I am also so thankful for my two sets of girlfriends. I have become so close with these girls here on the West Coast and it was one of the things I asked God to provide in my life! And my girlfriends from back home and college are so extremely important. I love that they understand me inside and out and still love me for who I am :) I am so grateful for their friendships.

I am so thankful for Calvary Church and the people that God has placed in our lives to help Billy and I grow as individuals and a couple. That has been one of our favorite parts of moving here to Los Angeles. :)

These are just a few things I am thankful for... What are you thankful for?? Happy Thanksgiving! :) xo