Christmas in Carolina

I meant to post our Christmas card before we left to come down to South Carolina, but seeing as how I only put them in the mail the day before we left, you can understand why I've been so slack. Everyone should have gotten theirs by now, so here is my virtual card to you! :)

Our sweet boy stole the show once again. Isn't he precious??

{this is his preferred way of sleeping in the car...so strange.}

Speaking of Charlie, he did so great on on our 13 hour long car trip down here. He's a wild man, but is so, so good in the car...thank God! He has been spoiled nonstop since he's been here, and I think we are going to have some problems when we get back to NY. He was showered with gifts as soon as we walked in the door by my mom, and my dad has been putting sausage or bacon in his food every morning to "help him eat his breakfast." Now he won't eat his food without it...great. What a hard life he lives!

 He's a little football player just like his daddy!

His new favorite spot.

 My brothers and Joe (unintentionally) matching on Christmas Eve

 My sweet Daddy and I

 The "kid" table on Christmas Eve...I don't think we'll ever graduate to the adult table

 Love you Maddie!

My mom's family always comes over to our house on Christmas Eve for a chili supper and to open our presents from each other. We have so much fun together, and it was so great to spend time with everyone!

 Christmas Day lunch at Mema and Papa's house!

 My mama!

 So thankful for this wonderful guy!

Uncle Joe: The Baby Whisperer

My nieces and nephew think Uncle Joe hung the moon. He is so sweet and patient with them, and the girls told me multiple times they want to marry him. I told them they could be my sister wives but only if they like to cook and clean. ;)

Hope you all had a very merry Christmas! We are looking forward to spending New Year's Eve in the mountains with our college friends. Be back soon with some New Year's Resolutions/Goals!

Weekend in the City

I had an eye appointment downtown on Friday afternoon (yay for finally getting some glasses with the right prescription since high school!) After that, I high tailed it to Bryant Park to meet up with mis padres! Woo Hoo!! They came for the weekend to see their most favorite daughter.

Hooray for new wannabe hipster glasses (ignore the writing the Dr. had on the lenses...I'll be picking up my pretties this week!)

Christmas in the city is truly magical, and I was so glad I got to spend the weekend with them! Poor little Joe was stuck in White Plains studying for finals, but he was able to meet us in Little Italy at our favorite restaurant Novella for some delicious dinner on Saturday night!

My mom and I continued our hunt for the best cupcake in the city, and we stopped in Crumbs Bakery to do a little taste test on our walk to Macy's. She didn't care for her Vanilla cake/chocolate icing, but my vanilla/vanilla (my go to flavor...boring, I know) was out of this world. Definitely my favorite so far! Do y'all have a favorite NYC cupcake? (Please don't say Magnolia's...gag.)

We also stumbled upon the most amazing holiday shops in Columbus Circle and we only wished we had more time to peruse. They definitely beat the shops in Grand Central, Bryant Park, and Union Square by far! 

I am so lucky to have such wonderful parents that I love to hang out with - we have so much fun together!

Times Square is such a madhouse during December, you can barely walk without getting pushed around. I always complain when having to go back there when people are visiting, but I secretly like it :) 

It was an extremely dreary day, and the Empire State Building was hiding from us behind some clouds 

We had to visit Macy's at Herald Square - it was also a madhouse, but we were determined to see pretty Christmas windows! Thank God we were there because my sweetie pie nurse Mama helped an elderly man who was hurt and confused after falling onto his hip off of the curb. Poor guy!

One of my most favorite places - the New York Public Library. Last time I was here, the marble facade was covered in scaffolding and was being cleaned, so I was glad to see she was looking sparkly and new!

Ohh, the Plaza. Can I please just move in here? Lucky Eloise! We actually just stopped in here for a potty break before a carriage tour of Central Park and the Christmas decor was just breathtaking. Note to self: come here for high tea SOON! 

Chandelier in the lobby of the Plaza...gorgeous, huh?!

Their stay just wasn't long enough, it never is. So excited to see them again this weekend! We are headed down to South Carolina for Christmas/New Years and I am so.stinkin.excited.

A Few of my Favorite Things

I was inspired by Natalie's Obsessions posts,
so here are a few of my favorite things...
 

{2011 Loosen Brothers Riesling}

I usually stick to red wines, but this Riesling was seriously delicious! My fabulous in-laws had some of this at their house for Thanksgiving and my brother-in-law's girlfriend, Kadie, and I were absolutely obsessed. (We may or may not have finished off 7 bottles over the course of the week...woops.) My MIL found it at Costco, but you can order it online here...super affordable at $9.99 a bottle. I will be stocking up, that's for sure.

{Old Navy Sweaters}

I scored these two beauties on Black Friday for super cheap! The polka dots are so fun, can't wait to pair it with a brightly colored scarf and the long fair isle sweater is totally amazeballs. I wore it on our 6am flight back to NYC on Sunday with leggings and boots, and it was like wearing a big comfy blanket. Go get yourself one before they're all gone! Joe thinks I look like a grandma wearing it...boys just don't understand.


{OPI The Spy Who Loved Me}

My sweet MIL took Kadie and I out for pedicures this past Saturday while we were in Kansas City, and it was WONDERFULLLLL. My sad feet were so thankful and I was so excited about the color polish I got. I used OPI The Spy Who Loved Me...I think it is a new color that is part of the new James Bond collection. Anyway, it is the perfect holiday red with some gold glitter in it and my toes look so fabulous!


{Monogrammed Sweatshirt}

If you're gonna bum it, might as well bum it in a cute monogrammed sweatshirt, right? This would make such a cute Christmas gift for a girl who's as obsessed with monograms as I am!


{Cheese plate with honey}

I've always been a huge fan of cheese plates...the stinkier, the better...but my in-laws took it to a whole new level when they introduced me to a cheese + assorted honey plate. (I think it's something they picked up on their Mediterranean cruise last year) Easy peasy and so delicious - slice up a few types of cheeses (sharp white cheddar, gorgonzola, brie, goat, etc.), put out as many different types of honey as you'd like (lavender honey and rosemary honey are my faves), and add some crackers, nuts, and dried fruits and you have yourself a beautiful cheese plate. I will definitely be sharing this with my family for Christmas this year!

Also found this little recipe when I was Googling cheese plates...can't wait to make this - I love figs!

Source: camillestyles.com via Molly on Pinterest

Our Engagement Story (4 Years Later)

Today, the Wofford Terriers will travel down to Columbia, SC to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks, just like they do every two years. This game is extra special to us because that is where we got engaged four years ago! (You can find the original engagement post down below!) Who knew after being such a big Clemson fan all my life, that a USC game would be so memorable?? I wish we could be there to cheer on the Terriers and to be with all of our friends and family, but we will be watching from NY! 

Go Terriers...kick some Gamecock booty!

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#65!

I have become such a big Wofford football fan over the past couple of years since Joe is on the team, so I was extremely excited about the game against the University of South Carolina. It is also a special game to us because Wofford played USC the day after we re-met two years ago. My family, Joe's family, the Walter's from Lake City, and some friends of mine were all tailgating together in Stadium Place at USC and I was so happy to have everyone together! Our two year anniversary was coming up on the Monday after the game, and Joe told me on Friday that he invited some of my friends from Simpsonville to come to the game with us.

Tailgating before the game!

Joe and me right after the game

After getting lost 50 billion times on the way to the game, we finally arrived. We had a beautiful black and gold tailgate spread and had so much fun being together! The game was so much fun (even though Wofford barely lost) and I was excited for Joe to come back to our tailgate. We stood around for a little while, then he asked me to follow him over to where his parents car was parked. He opened the driver's side door and I saw a white ring box sitting on the seat. I immediately new what was going on! He held my hands and told me how much he loves me and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with me because I make him the happiest guy on earth. He dropped down on one knee, slipped the ring on my finger, and asked, "Will you marry me?" I was sobbing and saying "Are you serious? Are you serious??", but I managed to squeak out a "YES!" and hugged my new fiance! (Ahhhh!) I turned around and saw that everyone at the tailgate was cheering and taking pictures!

Joe proposing!

I was a little excited.

Our parents were also very excited and surprised!

Joe's parents brought champagne and we had some of the sweetest toasts. I am so lucky to have someone who loves me so much, and also to be a part of his loving family! I could not have asked for anything more! Combining football, family and friends, and our love was the perfect way to start off our engagement!

The whole gang (minus Mere and Nicholas) after the proposal

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I sure love that handsome football player, and would say YES a million times over!