Reality!

Jeffrey flies out today (Monday, for those of you still on "Holiday time") for his new job and will be gone longer than usual because he is the "new" boss and it's a "new" project during a new year. There is a lot of "NEW", which means I will be manning the house in Charleston... aka, "new" is EVERYWHERE! I do not like "new", I do not like change, yet, God has always given Jeffrey and I "new" and change constantly. With each "new" and with each change, our lives get better and we improve and grow. This "new" will be no different. Now, lets do a running count on how many times I used the word "new"... no? okay! Moving on.

Now that my rambling is done, on with my point. With all this "new" (there is that word again) and change, I wanted the week before Jeffrey left to be magical and wonderful and full of love and snuggles. Please, excuse me while I go laugh hysterically in a corner... here is the reality!

Kelsey's fantasy: Snuggling on the couch and watching funny movies laughing together.
Reality: Jeffrey watched a ridiculous movie only he could understand and I, Kelsey ran around the house cleaning and organizing like a mad woman.

Kelsey's fantasy: The house is clean and we paint and clean together getting ready to sell our home.
Reality: Our house is still a mess and we are almost halfway done painting.

Kelsey's fantasy: We cook breakfast together and talk long into the afternoon.
Reality: We cook breakfast (WIN!), but then we get hooked in the show "Making a Murderer" and we binge watch the show until at least 3:00 which wastes our day. Oh, and we never really talked unless it was about our awesome lawyer skills obviously.

Kelsey's fantasy: We go on runs together and talk while we enjoy the view of the bridge or beach.
Reality: We didn't run! Read above where we basically binge watched Netflix.

As you can see, my Disney-romance-brain has a very skewed version of reality. Although reality is very different then what I want, I would not trade the reality we have for anything. Marriage is hard, it's vulnerable, and it can be down right frustrating sometimes. At the end of the day if my reality is being Jeffrey's wife in a messy house with full, lazy bellies then I am one happy girl! Happy New Year! May your reality be all that God has intended.

-Kelsey 

#lifegoals

Time flies when you're having fun! I cannot believe it is almost 2016. Whoa, where is time going? Although it is not quite 2016, the year is proving to be a good one for the Nelsons! Here are a few things we have to look forward to:

• Jeffrey has a new job he is SO excited about!

• Our home is going on the market mid-January.

• I love my current work place and will begin a side job as a client manager in January (so excited).

• I am excited to continue Pilates and see my body change even more.

• 2 cabin trips have been booked (can you tell we love a mountain getaway)

• We are planning a trip to Ireland in September!!

• We also have a trip to Texas to visit friends in the works.

• My sister-in-law and best friend are getting married in 2016.

As you can see, we have a lot of new and exciting things planned already for the new year. As a type-A goal setter, I have been thinking a lot about my goals and what I see for Jeffrey and I in the New Year. Since we had LONG car rides from SC to GA, then GA to VA, and then from VA to SC (did I mention we travel a lot?) we talked a lot about the new year and goals. Mainly I talked and Jeffrey listened. Here are a few of the goals we "discussed".

Kelsey:

1. Join a bible study group.

2. Learn about client management and grow in the new opportunities ahead.

3. Read more books.

4. Learn to cook.

5. Stop planning the future and trust in God, His plan is much better then mine anyways.

6. Learn to fully trust and believe #5.

7. SAVE money!!! We are going to do two more Live Well and Spend Zero months!

8. Craft more.

9. Take care of my body: pilates, eating healthy, taking vitamins, and drinking more water

10. Learn to brew Kombucha Tea. 

Jeffrey:

1. Join a mens Friday AM Bible study.

2. Get two software certifications 

(sidebar: y'all, he is already working toward one and has only been on the job 3 weeks... what a hardworking man!). 

3. SAVE money!!! We are going to do two more Live Well and Spend Zero months!

4. Balance work life and home life.

5. Make time for dates.

6. Teach Kelsey how to cook.

7. Did I mention SAVE money?!?!

8. read more.

9. Brew more beer and try new recipes.

10. Travel!

Jeffrey's side of the family does a Nativity each year! Jeffrey and I were Joseph and Mary.

Making goals is such a powerful tool to improving your life. Jeffrey and I are BIG goal setters. When we set goals, we make sure they are obtainable and we never give a timeline. We always make sure they are things we would like to slowly integrate into our already hectic lives. We also make sure our goals will better us as individuals and as a couple. What are your goals for 2016?

-Kelsey 

2015 Ultimate Wish List

Y'all I have been talking with the ladies I work with about Christmas wants and wishes for over a month now. I kid you not, teachers know how to make a mean list or 100! After TONS, I mean TONS of lists, sticky notes, debates, and research (y'all, I told you I was crazy organized/type-A) I present my 2015 Christmas wish list!

If we lived in a perfect world all of these would be under my tree. AAAAAAAA-AND, since we don't, I will be pleased with any one. After all, it is about giving. So if you're in a giving mood, here are a few items I wouldn't mind having.

1. Tory Burch flats

2. Diamond earrings

3. Fit Bit Surge

4. Lululemon yoga pants and tops

5. Anything Pilates related... I am obsessed!

Oh Kitchen-aid, Oh Kitchen-aid

Oh Kitchen-aid, Oh Kitchen-aid how lovely are your mixers! But really, someone should make a song out of that because holy-cow, how amazing are kitchen aid mixers. Jeffrey gave it to me a few days ago as an early Christmas gift. Have I ever mentioned how amazing my husband is? Well, he is SO incredibly amazing!

I made Peppermint Chocolate Chip "heaven" Cookies! If you like peppermint and chocolate these are a must try.

ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 ½ cups gluten free flour (I used cup 4 cup)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 large candy canes, crushed
• 12 ounces semi sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare sheet pans with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of a standing mixer, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and the extract and combine well.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix well and add to the cookie dough. Combine well.
4. Add the Candy canes and chocolate chips and mix just until the candy has been incorporated.
5. Scoop by the rounded tablespoon onto the pans, leaving lots of room for the cookies to spread (because they will spread quite a bit.)
6. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes and then let them cool for a few moments on the baking pan before transferring them to a cooling rack or counter top.
7. These store really well in the freezer!

What recipes do you love?

-Kelsey 

Tacky Christmas Sweater

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my job? Well, I love being a first grade teacher and my co-workers at Palmetto Christian Academy. One of my favorite festive traditions is the "ugly" Christmas sweater contest. We had such a contest at PCA last week. The teachers pulled out all the stops and we had a great fashion show during chapel. The kids LOVED IT! Y'all, I even won 2nd place!!!

How to get tacky!

1. Buy an ugly sweater at Kholes after you have visited a million other stores a the last minute,

2. Wear a tree skirt as a skirt. They were made for people not trees obviously. 

3. Put on your obnoxious red pants to seal the deal

4. Get ribbon curls and tie it in your hair

5. Strut your ugly self in holiday glory!!!

The amazing PCA 1st grade dream team!!!

Merry Christmas Blogging world! May your sweaters be tacky and your hot coco be sweet!

-Kelsey 

Friday Favorites

Five Fabulous Friday Favorites (I love a good alliteration!) 

1. Kombucha Tea // This stuff is amazing. It can be purchased at your local Whole Foods or Earth Fare. It is organic and is made from all natural ingredients that truly give you a natural boost of energy. My Pilates instructor brews her own at home and I have been considering doing the same.

2. Okra // I could eat this vegetable for lunch and dinner everyday. Slice it down the middle, toss it in a bowl with olive oil and garlic, then roast it in a pan. Delicious.

3. Pilates // I have started going to Pilates twice a week now, and I can feel such a difference. I don't feel so silly anymore and I can see myself getting stronger! Y'all I opened a really hard jar all on my own! I also held a plank in perfect position for over 2 minutes! This is such a celebration for me.

4. Wrapping // I have wrapped everything in my house. Honestly, I am surprised I haven't tried to wrap Roxie in all my wrapping rage.

5. Online shopping // It is so nice to grab a cup of coffee and sit by the television  in my PJ's while I Christmas shop. I can relax browsing and finding the perfect gift, I don't have to wait in line, and I can use promo codes for money off and free shipping. Thank you to whoever invented online shopping!

What are some of your favorite things right now?


-Kelsey

DIY Gift Ideas

I have been a DIY Mrs. Claus running around covered in glue, paint, and sugar busy making Christmas gifts for friends, family, and co-workers. Here are my DIY gifts that your friends will enjoy and actually find useful!

The hubby and I at the Charleston boat parade this past weekend

1. Homemade Sugar-Cookie Scrub // This is a great gift and so easy to make. I actually made one for myself because it is so awesome. 

Sugar-Cookie Scrub

1 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup coconut or olive oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract.

***Mix all in a large bowl and spoon into a clear jar***

2. Ornaments // I have been a little elf making millions of ornaments. All I did was purchase some paint pens and look up fun sayings. You can even fill them with fake snow or glitter. I am really happy with the way they have turned out.

3. Keep Sake Boxes // I would these on Pinterest and had to make them! These are so cute and are really useful for those special jewelry pieces. 

DIY Gemstone Keepsake Box

1. buy small boxes. I found mine at Michaels.

2. Spray paint them using a glossy white color.

3. 3. Once the paint is dry, glue a gem to the top. I got my gems at Michaels as well.

I hope you are enjoying this Holiday season. What DIY gift ideas do you have?

Happy crafting!

-Kelsey