'tis the season

it's raining in arizona today. :) i would love for it to be cloudy & rainy up until christmas day...it makes it feel more like winter here.

 a few of my favorite (holiday) things:

 i think it is safe to say that lights are my very favorite part of the season

 

 cuddling up in a chunky sweater with hot coffee or cocoa

 handmade christmas cards (doing mine tonight)

via dress,design,decor, plush palate, a cup of jo, decor8 (i might have missed some...eeks)

white christmas

my boyfriend's mom just sent me some photos from their little farm in michigan. i almost cried...i want a white christmas (& horses!) so badly. how gorgeous is their house?! obsessed would not be too strong a word here...

 their home is so perfect

 julie, with charlotte & a paint i haven't met yet

taffy!  i love the snow all over her face.

image of the day

 decorated my tree last night. it is a sad little thing, so bare. i would love a real tree, but they dry out so fast here. one of my very favorite parts of christmas decorating is unwrapping all the ornaments & laughing at our terrible homemade ornaments (who knew pretzels could last 19 years?!), the photos of us with santa (i have an amazing one where i am just screeeaming) & the momentos that still decorate our tree after all these years. decorating the tree helps me to center myself...directing my attention away from the materialistic, consumer christmas & bringing me back to what christmas is really about.

i can feel it...

i know it isn't even thanksgiving yet, but a radio station here has started playing christmas music already.  that's all i listened to for two days while i was moving into my new apartment.  i can't help being ridiculously excited for the christmas season.  need new decorations for new place!

my photography

can't wait for lights!!!