I thought I would share with you some fabulous centerpiece ideas I came across!

Now if you were expecting something traditional, like put those flowers in that pretty vase, type arrangement, then I hate to tell you, you won't find it here. But I assume if you are reading this, you know by now that I like fresh, brilliant, and new ideas...after all, those blue wedding shoes are mine on the front page :)

Enjoy and let me know what you think :)
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Happy Saturday, everyone!

My posts have been a little lacking, but fear not, I am always here! 2011 has brought AMAZING opportunities my way, so even though I am busy, I am here!

How has everyone's 2011 been treating them?!
Dream big, because dreams come true.

Leaving you with something that I think you will find quite fitting in your life,
in one way or another :)
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I want you to get swept away out there. I want you to levitate. I want you to sing with rapture and dance like a dirvish...Yeah be deliriously happy or at least leave yourself open to be. I know it's a cornball thing, but love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. I say, fall head over heels, find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. How do you find him? Well, you forget your head and you listen to your heart. The truth is, there's no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love, well, you haven't lived a life at all. But you have to try, because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived.

- Meet Joe Black (only my fav. movie, ever.)
 
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  “To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children...to leave the world a better place...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

 
Well, Well, Well, What do we have here?

Do you remember, ME? Do you recognize, ME?

Okay, you don't have to remind me of the caloric intake I inhaled over the past two weeks, or the fact that my free spray tan has faded, or the fact that I have split ends out the ying yang... it's ME.

And I am back!

What a Holiday Break it was - amazing, warm, family filled, heart warming, food loving, present opening, stocking stuffing, car riding, song singing, game playing, drink drinking, and vacationing - it was a blasty blast as some might say!

Without further hesitation, let's just fill you in - I know you want to know,
and heck I would like to remember :)
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Twas the night before Christmas... the hubby and I got to spend our first married Christmas in our new home! How sweet is that? I know, super sweet.
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We made dinner, and of course, made drinks!
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We are making a new tradition to pick up a board game every Christmas Eve and play, play, play...or play until I beat Ryan and he gets mildly annoyed...
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Then we watch the hubba bubs favorite Christmas movie of all time, and I get to hear him say every line, two lines before they say it.
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Merry Christmas! We woke up and opened our stockings! Puppies first, and they destroyed one toy before we even opened one of our presents...puppies will be puppies.
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I surprised Ryan with tickets to the Heritage Golf Tournament at Hilton Head - yahoo! And guess who gets to make sure he gets there safe n sound?! This girl! Come on girls, you must get clever with gifts!
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Ryan won, per usual. It's his goal, every year, to win at Christmas gift giving...he is really so good. I got my Mac Book Pro! And I am smitten...
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Then we packed up - and headed home Christmas Day, for dinner with my parents! Note to self, fill up on gas Christmas EVE, as to avoid trying to find an open gas station, Christmas DAY.
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We arrived just in time! To wait for another 3 hours to eat...haha But dinner was amazing and yummy and fun.
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Then it was present time! We are very blessed by both our families - thanks for the gifts everyone :)
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A few days after Christmas, it was go time! We were off on our Holiday Road Trip!
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We made it to SC safe n sound...I made sure the back seat stayed nice and toasty and was able to be slept in...
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We stopped for breakfast across the road from this bad boy! Ryan and Dad said they were just stopping to see where they are playing later this year...har har har.
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Then the hubby got to see where my parents are going to live...in the next YEAR! We got to see their new development and lot that they are going to start building on soon!
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Finally, we made our destination - Hilton Head Island!
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Since we are so fly, we got to stay all week at the Marriott on the ocean :)
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This is the real reason for the trip! We finally met up with Justin!!!!! dhfsdkfksdj! We were all so excited :)
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We got to open more presents - more presents I said!
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Mom surprised us with another kick butt game to play - did we play it at all the whole week? No! We were too busy!
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The next day we shopped and dined and shopped and dined some more...
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Ryan got to see the fancy schmancy (this is sarcasm) HHI lighthouse...seriously HH, this is not a lighthouse.
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Finally, the day the boys had waited for had arrived - golf day, on the ocean! Ooo Aaa, so pretty!
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They had to twist our arm, but Mom and I went shopping again...it was hard, but we made it through.
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We came back to the hotel to find two weddings taking place on the beach! How cute!
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NYE also happens to be Big Brother's Birthday! So we went to eat at The Boat House! So yummo in the tummo, and Justin got a free cupcake! That he DIDN'T eat...so guess who did?
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Mom and Dad went to a friend's NYE party, and the hubs, brother and I went off to our own NYE paaaar tay.
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We had so much fun! Which also made for a fun cab ride home :) Shout out to Frederick, the best HH cabbie around!
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We woke up in 2011, thinking we saw one of these - luckily I had just come ashore from my 5k swim to the inlet and back...I barely missed him...(sarcasm again)
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We watched a lot of these, and became more and more embarrassed as each Big Ten Team bit the dust...
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Mom and I got to enjoy MASSAGES!!! Dad and Ryan surprised us a few nights before at dinner, saying they bought us full spa packages at the hotel! Dad reminded Ryan how many bonus points that would score him...how rude.
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This is my Brother's phone, and it went missing from NYE. But it ended up being one of the best inside jokes that we will forever torment him with for the rest of his living days.
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I woke up on our last day, to this. SIGH. I love you beach! I will be back! I promise!
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We filled our bellies, at Stacks. Yummo in the tummo, again. Except the hubba bub stole all my fruit.
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We hugged goodbye, and said see you soon, I mean it, see you super soon! (Justin doesn't know I have a one way plane ticket for next week booked)
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We hopped back on the road! I hopped back in my seat, proclaimed I lost my awesome sunglasses somewhere on thee island, sigh :(
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And we finally made it back here. Only 40 degrees colder, and no beach. But in the end, it always feels good to be home!
 
Be The First To Say Hello To People All Day

This shouldn't be hard, after all the Challenges we have done thus far, should it?

My wish for each and every one of you is to have Christmas in your heart,
safe and sound, this Holiday Season.
I wish for us all to see how blessed we are, each of us.

Here is a quote I will leave you with, from my favorite movie,
and quite possibly my favorite quote...

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around."

Love Actually 2003


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, dear friends :)
 
I have been waiting for this one...for a real excuse to do it...

Sing Carols!
Sing them loud, Sing them proud.

If you are like me, sing them to your husband every chance you get.
Like instead of talking...sing.

Oh, is that just me? Oops.
 
Hello Everyone!

Can you believe it, we are already at Challenge Ten!!! Only two more to go after today, so let's savor every second, shall we?!

Happy Holiday Challenge Ten!

Make A Christmas Treat For Someone Else

It can be anything you can possibly dream or make!
- baking cookies, knitting a scarf, putting together an ornament, a frame with a memorable picture, a thoughtful poem, the possibilites are endless...so get to it!

Remember, we always love hearing how your Challenges went,
and how you completed each one! Don't hesitate to share :)

Facebook 29 Peonies
Twitter @29peonies
 
You can thank me in about 45 seconds for showing you these amazing creations - enjoy :)
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I told you - you are very welcome :)
If you would like to see more, check out Christoph Niemann.
 
Happy Holiday Challenge Day Nine!

Phone Or Send A Card
To An Old Friend Or Family Member


Easy right?! But let's make sure we take the time to do it!

Sorry for the short posts lately, the Christmas rush is definitely on here
- but I am welcoming it with open arms!

I hope you do the same! Enjoy today's Challenge!
 
Make A "Give List"
Instead Of A List Of Gifts You Would Like


Perhaps a smidgen late to make a list, either way, for some people,
but I say, "Why not?!"

Make a small "give list" for those last minute, memorable gifts, that do not take much time, but a lot of thought :)

Everyone loves getting a gift that they know someone thought long, hard, and really tried to make it special...trust me, everyone, even, *gasp* GUYS!

This year, my in laws and us,
did a lot of "thoughtful gift giving"
and hands down, their excitement and look on their faces,
was even better than something from the mall - just give it a try!
A picture, a quote, a poem, a story that means something to them,
anything at all - with a little love, any gift can be the best :)

The countdown is on for Christmas....it's at the END OF THE WEEK!!!!

How has the Happy Holiday Challenge helped you this season
- please share - we would LOVE to hear from you :)