clicks of note: pick you up and fly you far away...

get your week off to a colorful start...

LISTEN.

• Admit it, "Pair of Wings" is exactly the kind of song you wished Justin Timberlake would sing to you in 1998.

SWOON.

Annamarie Akins Photography via Style Me Pretty

• Style Me Pretty features an emerald military homecoming inspired shoot.
• Apple Brides features elegant winter centerpiece ideas for every style.
• I want an invite to this sparkly crafting party at Hostess with the Mostess.
• In love with this classic Atlanta wedding featured at Snippet and Ink.

SMILE.

• Here are all of my favorite holiday home tours from the past week.
• Gift wrap ideas inspired by children's books! (You Are My Fave).
• The Knot predicts which celebs will put a ring on it in 2014.
• SYTYCD alums Twitch and Allison are married!

REFLECT.

• Kelly shares a Christmas story that will touch your heart:

"I remember what he’s told me about this time last year. He, his mom and his brothers had just been evicted from their apartment. They spent months living on the streets, begging for their mom’s drug money on street corners before DSS finally took them into custody.

Suddenly, Mary and Joseph’s plight hurt my heart in a way it never had before. The Christmas story came alive and stuck with me all through the next day like a bad toothache." 

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I shared a Sunday Social all about favorites, gave you a mini holiday home tour and ideas for displaying Christmas cards, and rounded up my December blog loves and my own most popular posts of 2012.  I also shared my December in Instagram,
• Two years ago, I shared my favorite things in our home. 

The Christmas Story [#12DC]

Dust off that Bible. We'll wait and pretend you didn’t have to look for it first. What's your favorite biblical account of the Christmas Story and why (as in, which book of the Bible)?

I love reading the account of the birth of Christ in the Gospel of Luke because it is so focused on Mary. Luke begins his letter by stating that he has done a lot of research - which right off the bat makes him a kindred spirit.  It's also the version of the Christmas story my mom taught me as a child - beginning with the angel Gabriel appearing to the priest Zechariah to tell him that he and his wife Elizabeth were going to have a son, John the Baptist, then to Elizabeth's cousin Mary to tell her that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.

Luke also includes what is probably the most well-known version of the birth of Christ:

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Merry Christmas!

sunday simplicity: central park

Readyluck Photography

december in instagram - photo dump! [#12DC]

I've been linking up with #12DC all month, and today's prompt is my favorite: PHOTO DUMP!

Mr. Q and I at my work department's Christmas party - 

isn't my friend's tree gorgeous (and aren't we cute)?

A few shots of our Christmas tree - this year I went with silver, white,

burlap, and just a few touches of red.  My inspiration was It's a 

Wonderful Life.  I'm still working on some DIY decorations and hope

to have a mini home tour up next week - hopefully before Christmas!

My little Mason snow jars make me so happy - the mini pinecones

are from Breeze's wedding and I've been holding onto those mini

jingle bells for the perfect project.

There's my SIL rocking out at her music school during 

our little town's Christmas party.

The Christmas cards M. Q wanted, and my favorite holiday treat.

We did get one snow day, and icy weather made roads treacherous.

Guilty pleasures:  Hallmark Christmas movies (did y'all watch 

Christmas in Conway?) and chocolate peppermint cookies 

from Cooking Classy.

A little reindeer pin from my co-worker and my current favorite

thing from the shelves of Target - this snowglobe reminds

me of Clark Griswold's Christmas tree.

I'm displaying Christmas cards very simply this year on our memo board.

Here's another shot of our tree at night time.

I love the huge snowman at the mall, and listening to the Vince Guaraldi

trio while wrapping gifts (love my Peanuts wrap from Hallmark!)

welcome, winter.

Rebecca Lindon via Style Me Pretty

“Winter is the time for comfort, 

for good food and warmth, 

for the touch of a friendly hand 

and for a talk beside the fire: 

it is the time for home.”

― Edith Sitwell

Simple Holiday Dessert Recipe: No Bake White Chocolate Covered Ritz Peanut Butter Cookies! [#12DC + Christmas is in the Air]

We all know tis' the season of sugar - What's your favorite holiday dessert?

One of my family's holiday traditions growing up was always going to my paternal grandparents' home every Christmas day.  My parents and my aunts and uncles all did the Santa thing on Christmas Eve, and we grandkids brought one favorite toy to play with (and show off) at the family party.  There was always a HUGE spread for dinner - my Mamaw would spend all day cooking and my mom and all my aunts would bring a dish.  My aunt Ann brought these simple but amazing desserts one year and they became a go-to of mine in college when I brought them to a progressive dinner and all the boys in my fellowship asked me to marry them.  Anyone who doesn't believe that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach is probably not a Baptist.

These are perfect when you need a dessert to take to a party or potluck and don't have time to turn on the oven.  The best part?  They aren't holiday-specific, so you could make them for any get-together you need a low-maintenance dessert for.

You will need:

• A box of Ritz crackers (or knockoff Ritz crackers) - 32 crackers for 16 cookies
• Your favorite peanut butter
• White chocolate chips (12 oz. made about 16 cookies for me) 
• The decorations of your choice

First, make your sandwiches by spreading peanut butter on Ritz crackers and smushing them together.

If you have a double boiler, you should use that to melt the chocolate.  I rig up the contraption you see above using a saucepan and an Anchor Hocking casserole dish and use medium heat to melt the chocolate, 12 oz. at a time.  A bowl in the microwave also works in a pinch, but there is a higher likelihood of the chocolate burning with that method.

Burnt white chocolate ain't pretty.

I wanted to make some with Nutella, but someone has eaten almost all of our Nutella.  Straight out of the jar.  With a spoon.  And that someone writes this blog.

I packaged a few cookies for my coworkers in some cute cellophane bags I found at A.C. Moore.  Did you know that the Teacher of the Year is actually chosen by the other teachers, not by the students?  I think this is my year.

I used PicMonkey to edit these photos and add text and it was so easy to do - and PicMonkey is offering free trials of their Royale version this month!  Click here for a free day of PicMonkey Royale!

What's your go-to holiday dessert?

LINKING UP WITH:

Inspiration Monday at Twelve O Eight

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

inspiration for an emerald and gold 1920's art deco wedding [new year's eve 2014 party inspiration]

For my last wedding inspiration round-up of 2013, I decided to put together my favorite trends from this year: emerald green, gold confetti, and 1920's-inspired art deco touches a la The Great Gatsby.  It's been a fabulous year, and many of these ideas would also work beautifully for a New Year's Eve party - why not ring out the color of the year in high style?

Please note:  If you'd like to add any of the images from this post to your 

Pinterest boards, please click on the link below the picture and pin

from the source so the creators get credit!  I'm just here to share inspiration!

Blush Paperie || Ariel Renae Photography via Style Me Pretty

Confetti - especially gold confetti - is instantly festive.  

It always reminds me of Kate Spade's classic designs.

Mustard Seed Photography via Style Me Pretty

This antique ring, photographed on top of a special Penguin

Hardback Classics edition of The Great Gatsby, is a perfect art deco touch.

Whitney Darling Photography via Ruffled

Feathers, sequins and other flapper-inspired details are perfect

for a vintage-inspired wedding - or for a New Year's Eve soiree!

Bells and Boards via Vintage Tea Roses

Victoria Hannan

I Wish I Had an Ocean || Tasha at Nordstrom

Add a little sparkle to your ensemble - and to your dessert!

Reem Acra Resort 2013 via Style.com

Whitney Darling Photography via Ruffled

How clever are the strands of beads mixed in with ribbons decorating

these chairs for a garden ceremony?  What a great party planning idea!

Spindle Photography via Grey Likes Weddings

Jasmine Nicole Photography via Ruffled

Holiday 2013: Gold and Emerald

So yesterday I was going through my closet, pulling out items I might want to wear for this week's many holiday-themed activities.  The common thread (literally) was green.  What better way to end 2013 than with the color of the year, emerald, paired with shades of champagne and gold for a perfectly festive holiday?

Disclaimer:  Links to ModCloth items contain an affiliate code.

View this set on Polyvore

1. Kiki La'Rue chevron blouse  2. Target drop earrings  3. ModCloth cardigan
4. ModCloth lace dress  5. Kiki La'Rue statement necklace
6. ModCloth crossbody purse  7. Zoya nail polish in "Giovanna"  8. Essie nail polish from Beyond Polish
9. Deborah Lippmann nail polish from Neiman Marcus 10. GAP metallic ballet flats

20% Off 100's of Party Dresses at ModCloth for 2 Days Only!
That's right! Now through 12/19, ModCloth is putting 100's of their party dresses on sale. This is perfect timing for all the last minute holiday parties coming up. Head over to ModCloth and check out their incredible selection of cute dresses here: 20% Off 100's of ModCloth Party Dresses through 12/19! And don't forget, Spend $100+ for free EXPRESS shipping to get your party dress just in time for your event!