Feeling Special this Fall

Another one of my goals for 2011,

is to find special ways to show my family and friends
just how much I love and appreciate them.

I've been trying to do that by
spending extra time with them,
sending thoughtful text messages,
making dinner for them,
lending a helping hand,
being generous with our resources
and being intentional with words of affirmation.

A couple weekends ago,
my sister and I put together little "Welcome, Fall!" packages
to help my mom and mother-in-law
know that I am oh-so-thankful for them
and for the unique roles they play in my life.

For my mom,
we put together a couple pieces of Fall decor that reminded us of her,
a mini word-art canvas and a refurbished vase full of Fall foliage.
For my mother-in-law,
we made her her own mini word-art canvas,
a refurbished vase,
and wrapped it up with a little decorative pumpkin.
I had so much fun crafting with my sister all weekend,
and I hope I was able to make my moms feel extra special this Fall.

Looking Back & Looking Forward

This weekend, my sister-in-law is getting married.
To celebrate her wedding and her marriage,
I put together this little album for her.

It's a glance back at her bridal shower in June
and a looking forward to her growing relationship with Chris.

The front pageDecorations: Banners, Candy Table, Nacho Bar, Table DecorMore decor and some marriage advice from her friends and family
Pictures with Friends and FamilyMarriage AdviceAll the lovely ladies who came to the showerBridal Shower In ActionOpening GiftsMore Marriage adviceThe Bartender (aka, Dad!)And a personal note from one sister to another.
Congratulations, Kristin.
As you and Chris become one tomorrow,
I pray that your special day would be
beautiful and lovely.
A true testament to your love for Chris.

May the Lord make His face to shine upon you
and give you His peace.

I love you.

A Summer Weekend

This was one of those perfect summer weekends.
The kind that's filled with all things wonderful
and all things summer.

Love. Love. Love.

A new little top at Kohl's
A few hours of E! while working on Craft projects
A beautiful late night bonfire on the bay
Gorgeous views from the water
Sleeping in
Everything Bagels with Onion & Chive cream cheese
Wrapping Presents
Working on my sister-in-law's wedding gift
Reading Danielle Steele
Going Swimming
Maggie Moo
Running a few errands
BBQing
Watching Never Let Me Go, Executive Decision and Taking Lives
Celebrating my Sister's birthday.

Absolutely perfect

A Family Celebration

Last weekend, my cousin MaryLisa
had our family over for Sunday dinner.

We enjoyed good conversation,
a tasty meal, a few rounds of games,and we celebrated miss Julia's birthdaywith cake, ice cream and presents, of course.
How fun to have our family close by.
These girls are just the sweetest.

{Mom gets the photocreds on this one}

An Unexpected Mother's Day Gift

Once upon a time,

I purchased a gift for my mother-in-law.

She loves Chance by Chanel and is running low so I thought,
'hm, what a I perfect Mother's Day gift.'
It's a little more than we'd typically spend,
so I asked Jeremiah's brother if he'd like to go in on it.


When said brother came over the other night,
I pointed out the gift to him
which was still unwrapped on the table.
{I think the price tag was still on, too!}

Apparently, he thought I was asking him to take it to his mom.

Fast forward to last night,
when I got the following text from my mother-in-law.

"Dan gave me the perfume tonight.
It had been in his glove compartment... it was broken
and most of it leaked out, absorbed by the box and paper."

Mother's Day Fail.

First, because I hadn't wrapped it or made a cute little tag yet.
Second, because Tina's Mother's Day gift is now... a hug and a kiss?
and Third, because nearly a hundred liquid dollars just spilled down the drain
after having to pay $40 to a locksmith and $50 because we missed a dentist appointment.

We laughed.

McLeod Family Chistmas

This year, we got to spend Christmas

with much of the McLeod clan.

These pretty people came down from IdahoThese cuties made the drive from Grass Valleyand our family headed up to Camarillo to crash with Grandma and Grandpa
It was a full house.
Full of love, laughter
and enough food to feed an army.

We stuffed our faces, played games well into the night,
went to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve,
exchanges gifts, and caught up on all of life's happenings.So fun to have everyone together
like the "old days," Jeremiah would say...

Can we do this every year??

Christmas with the Mister

This year, the month of December was I-N-S-A-N-E.
That said, Jeremiah and I celebrated Christmas
about five or six days early.
(The only day we really had the time.)

We watched Elf,
read the Christmas story
light the fresh balsam candles
and exchanged gifts and stockings by the fireplace.Jeremiah filled my stocking with a few magazines,
a new book, a Starbucks gift card and a little note
letting me know he ordered me a BHG subscription.
He also gave me two beautiful coats. Good work, babe.


I filled Jeremiah's stocking with movie tickets,
a Starbucks gift card, some yard work gloves
and a few card games.
I also gave him his very own Flavia machine
with enough coffee, hot chocolate and tea packets
to sip to his heart's content.

It was a little more low key than last Christmas,
but it was simply lovely.

The gingerbread houses, big Christmas dinners,
and tours of neighborhood lights
aren't what Christmas is about anyway.

Mikovits Family Christmas

This year,
Christmas at the Mikovits house
consisted of soup, salad and rolls, gift giving galore,
a delicious caramel banana ice cream dessert,
and Ramona and Beezus.

And after Christmas at my parents' house,
we headed up to Thousand Oaks for Calvary's Christmas Eve service,
the tastiest of Christmas Eve dinners (with pesto torte, of course!),
and bright&early Christmas morning with my silly cousins.

We definitely missed having Gram there,
but receiving communion with Papa on Christmas Eve
was especially sacred.

Here are a few pictures from my parents' house:

Lys and I modeling some of our new gifts.
My with my vace and Lys with her scarf, mittens and purse.Everyone in their new coatsJeremiah loves his floors
so of course he loved his new vac&steamMother-Daughter photoLys modeling as many gifts as she can at the same timeSilly boysDad with a new picture for his office
What'd we give?

Dad got a new dress shirt and
personalized cuff links for all his business travel

Mom got a set of hand-painted plates,
an automatic can opener and a bracelet from New York

Lys got a lovely sweater
and some lovely-smelling perfume

Little Letters: December Edition

Dear Husband, thank you from the bottom of my obsessed-with-Christmas heart for putting lights up, hanging our wreath, lighting the fire and always making sure to turn on our Christmasy goodness before I come home from work so I can walk into a little piece of Heaven each night.

Dear Cookie Decorating, you're the bomb.com. For a moment there, I thought you were possibly more fun than actually eating the cookies. But then I came to my senses.

Dear Cider Celebration, the hubs and I look forward to you every year. Point Loma is overflowing with musical talent. Plus, I dig the free cider.

Dear December Nights, we partake in your fantastical activities every year. A Mikovits Family tradition. Can't wait to chow down at the Prado and walk the streets of Balboa Park taking in Christmas in all its glory. Cold weather + Christmas Music + Family + Delicious Food = Magical.

Dear Sherman Girls, I'm really looking forward to baking cookies with you pretty princesses this weekend.

Dear Schanakers, is it Monday yet. Please come over and play with us. We miss your faces.

Dear Papa, it's almost your birthday. Can't wait to shower you with love.

Dear Surprise, I'm excited for you. Shh!

Dear Christmas Party at the Sarettes, three words: I can't wait. You sure know how to party.

Dear Jordan and Alana, finish up school already and get your butts out to California. It's time to spend some more quality time in the same time zone!

Dear Future of Forestry, the hubs and I can't wait for your Christmas show. Our calendars are marked. Our tickets are bought. Rock our socks off.

Dear Christmas weekend, you are going to be awe-to-the-SOME. We have family coming in from all over the place. We've got plans to spend time with them left and right. Games, food, church, snuggling, gift exchange. Can't. Wait.

Dear Paid Holidays, brilliant. Just brilliant.

Dear Little Tree in our Room, I love you. You make our bedroom glow oh-so-lovely.

Dear Living Room, you're the place to be this holiday season. You're filled with Christmas spirit, a crackling fire, twinkle lights galore and the love of my life.

Dear Baby Jesus, you're the reason for the season. The bang for my buck. The apple to my cider. The earmuffs to my freezing cold lobes. Thank you for leaving your Throne. I am ETERNALLY grateful.

Dear Jug Dish, I can't wait to exchange gifts and stockings. I think you're really going to like your gift this year.

Bunting, Baby!

Birthday? Anniversary? Something fun to celebrate?

I'm your girl for cute bunting.

Birthdays
Congratulations
Christmas
Valentine's
Mother's Day
Miscellaneous