Christmas Traditions: The Nutcracker

I figured with this being the week leading up to Christmas, I would talk about some of my favorite Christmas Traditions starting with one that really does mean Christmas to me: The Nutcracker.

From the time I could practically walk, I did ballet.

My first dance recital "Put your little foot"

And as soon as I was old enough to be in The Nutcracker, I was. So for 11 years straight, that was my family's Christmas tradition.

First Nutcracker performance as a Soldier.

At the time I was growing up in The Nutcracker with The Greenville Ballet, it was THE show in the upstate. We did at least 2 weeks of performances and traveled to Clemson and Greenwood for shows as well. That along with having Saturday rehearsals months leading up to Decemeber and daily rehearsals at the theatre leading up to the show... to say it consumed our lives is an understatement. But we wouldn't have had it any other way.

Those weeks of rehearsals and shows at the Peace Center in downtown Greenville are some of my favorite memories. Hanging out in the wings, studying for exams in between numbers, playing dress up with costumes it is a time I will never forget.

Me and some of the girls backstage during rehearsals.

Yesterday, Brett and I went and saw Columbia City Ballet's performance and it just flooded my mind with memories. (Brett has come to terms with the fact that he will be having to attend The Nutcracker every year for the rest of his life... poor guy). Just hearing that opening music takes me back and gives me excited butterflies in my stomach. I told Brett after the show that I kind of missed parts of the dancing because I couldn't help but replay all of my studio's choreography in my head! (I think those dances will forever be ingrained in my mind!)

Final Nutcracker performance as a senior in high school dancing "Spanish Hot Chocolate"

So now that I've attended The Nutcracker I am that much more in the Christmas spirit and one step closer to Christmas Eve/Day! 

InstaClaus

InstaWhat?? As mentioned before, in my previous life I worked in Advertising. Life in advertising is an interesting one. You work hard and you play harder. The people I worked with made the job and that is because most of the people I worked with were just big kids. Big, crazy talented, creative, kids. Each year the agency would do some pretty cool holiday card/website/video game/etc. to send out to all our clients. Well this year's is no exception and is so darn awesome I had to share it! Enter, InstaClaus...

If you go to www.InstaClaus.com you can get all the site instructions/details but essentially they are using the latest trending social media site, Instagram, to give gifts to needy children. Each child has their wish list in the "workshop" and with 5 pictures posted to instagram relating to that gift (and tagged with the appropriate #hashtag) the agency will buy the gift for that child and deliver it. So whether you are familiar with Instagram or not, go check out the site! Us "EPers" are for life so I'm pretty proud of the work of "my" past company.

Merry Christmas!

2012 Christmas Card

Now that our Christmas cards have officially hit the mailboxes of our friends and family, I am so happy to get to share the final product! As I said before, a friend of mine - Miss Wyolene - aka. Morgan Young helped me create such a perfect representation of who we are. I just love the way the fun green script stands out against the black and white picture (which happens to be one of my favorite captured moments from our first dance at the wedding). We also paired the card with a snazzy gold envelope to help it stand out amongst the standard white envelopes you get in the mail... can you tell we worked in advertising together??

So, a big thank you to Morgan for creating our very first Christmas card for us! I know we will always keep this to remember our first Christmas together as The Owens! I am so lucky to have such talented friends! (She also managed to get these from the printer, packaged and shipped to me all while having a newborn at home! She's a saint I tell 'ya!)

Morgan also custom designed our wedding invitations which you can check out on her blog HERE! 

Weekend Recap: 12/10/12

What a perfectly blissful weekend! After 3 weekends on the road traveling, it was so incredible to be in town for a full 3 days!

Friday Night we headed out to do a little Christmas shopping and ended up finding and purchasing 2 of the gifts we had been struggling with finding so glad we decided to go out that night! Then we headed over to The Pizza Joint (one of our favorite) for dinner. We also had to toast a big celebration... I've mentioned before that we still own my house in Greenville and have been renting it out for a year and a half to some amazing tenants (we really feel like we hit the tenant lottery!). Well, their lease was coming to an end at the end of the year so we were trying to decided what to do - sell or rent some more - when our tenants decided to sign another year lease! We are SO thrilled to be keeping the same wonderful people in the house and the fact that we don't have to worry about it until 2014! Also during dinner we got the text we had been waiting all day for - Baby Roy Westbrook had finally been born!! Double cheers!

CHEERS!!

Saturday Morning we laid around a bit (watched a little Saved by the Bell - true story) then hit the town to finish out our Christmas shopping. We got it ALL done! Such a relief to be done with the shopping and just have to get everything wrapped and ready for the festivities to begin! We also had the honor of heading over to the hospital to visit with the new mom and dad and meet Baby Roy! He is so precious and we are thrilled for our friends!

Saturday Night we decided to go to the Riverbanks Zoo Christmas lights with our friends Amy and Lee and their son Bowers. It was so much fun seeing the lights and spending time with good friends!

Really dark picture but this is me, Brett and Bowers.

Me, Amy and Bowers

Sunday we decided to be extra ambitious and get up and go to early church so we were able to go to church, grocery shop and get home all before lunch! We then did a few projects around the house (including finally hanging the curtains in our guest bedroom). Then we walked over to a new neighborhood right down the street that was hosting a Tour of Homes. The houses were absolutely stunning and had me drooling and jealous as we left and walked home. It was a beautiful day (almost 78 degrees) so we sat outside, took Brinkley for a walk around the neighborhood and grilled some chicken kabobs for dinner.

It was truly one of those weekends that everyone needs from time to time. We've got a busy few weekends ahead with the holidays but all worth it! Hope everyone else had a great weekend as well!

The Friday Five: 12/7/12

It's been awhile since I've done a Friday Five post because well, it's been awhile since I've actually been home on a Friday/weekend. We have had a crazy few weeks with 2 trips to NC and 1 to GA we are happy to have a weekend at home to relax and finish Christmas shopping. So with that, here are 5 things I'm thinking about this Friday morning:

1. Baby Roy: As I got into my car this morning to drive to work I got a text from a good friend that she and her husband were on the way to the hospital to welcome their son into the world. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! Saying a little prayer that they have a smooth delivery and a happy, healthy baby boy and momma sometime today!

2. Christmas Cards: We mailed off our very first Christmas cards as a married couple this week and I am so excited to share them next week!

3. Christmas Shopping: Last weekend Brett had a conference in Atlanta so while he was in seminars I headed over to Lenox mall and got a ton of Christmas shopping complete. This weekend we have mapped out the rest of our stops and should be done with the buying this weekend! Then on to the wrapping...

4. Friends: One of my good friends, Laura Anne sent this picture to myself and our other friend Ashley last night and it just makes me smile. The 3 of us (and our other friend Allie) were so close when we all lived in Greenville right after college. Then it just so happened that all 4 of us got married and moved to separate cities/states (Columbia, Birmingham, Atlanta and Charleston). We don't get to see each other often but we will always share a very special friendship from those first years out of college as "adults".

5. Hall Rug: I mentioned previously about the search for my hall rug and the continued back order notifications I've gotten. Well, the day had finally arrived that it should be shipped. Fingers crossed I don't get yet another one of those back order emails!

My Month via Instagram: November

I feel old for just saying this but seriously though, where did this month go?!?!

Started off the month with a wild and crazy Friday night wine and book party. 

Then found a portal to the black hole behind out bathroom mirror. Oh the joys of owning an old home. 

Started packing on those holiday pounds with a brownie and pumpkin bread.

Hit the 100 day countdown to our anniversary trip to Puerto Rico!

And proved to the world that Brett and I were meant for each other.

We headed to the beach for Thanksgiving and even convinced brothers to make rice crispy treats!

Tried to remember good sportsmanship during the Clemson/Carolina Game. (My mom's coworker had her students send notes to Marcus Lattimore and got this in return.)

Did some fishing and caught a beautiful sunset on the beach.

Finally broke out the Moose Mugs and egg nog to decorate the tree.

And closed out the month similar to how I started it. Relaxing! Can't complain there!

Here's to Demember and my favorite time of year!! 

Tasy Tuesday: EASY White Chicken Chili

Nothing says fall and winter quite like a good chili recipe. Even though the weather here in South Carolina feels more like the spring, I still can't help but crave this recipe this time of year. A lot of chilli's can be so heavy and filling but this is such a light yet comforting recipe. A friend of mine gave it to me years ago and I can easily make it over 5 times a season. It is also a great freezer recipe so feel free to double this and freeze half for later! So get a pot of this going, build yourself a fire and enjoy of bowl while watching a Christmas movie (or two) and try to not to sweat too much in this 75 degree December weather!

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili:
Below is about 4 servings but you can easily double.
Combine the following in slow cooker:
- Packet of McCormick's White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix (I prefer McCormicks but it is sometimes hard to find so have done this using other brands of white chicken chili).
- 1 lb of chicken
- Can white beans / cannelloni
- Can diced tomatoes (drained)
- Can corn (drained)
- 1 c. chicken broth 
*I've tried the recipe using all low sodium ingredients and you can't tell a bit of difference!

Throw all ingredients (keep chicken whole) into your slow cooker and set on low or high depending on how long you want it to cook. I stir and shred the chicken 2 or 3 times as it is cooking to get it into bite sized pieces (the longer it cooks the easier this is to just shred in the pot).  You can also use different variations of the veggies (mexicorn, jalepeno tomatoes, etc.).  Serve w/ shredded cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, chives, fritos, etc.

There ya have it! Enjoy!!