Open Door Cross

My dad has built for years. He's one of the most creative builders I've ever known or seen in action. He and TC will be building my dream home on of these days. In the meantime, he's been creating these beautiful "Open Door Crosses" for my mother's shabby chic business, Chameleon Designs. These crosses have been a favorite at every show we've been too. People love the "rustic" look and the message of the cross. Each cross has one of three Scriptures and an antique looking doorknob signifying Christ as the door - through Him salvation is found.

Consumers love the idea of hanging these near their front and back doors and mixing them with a frame collage on a wall. It's beautiful in any house. And it's the perfect gift. At shows, consumers purchased them for baby showers, wedding showers, and Christmas presents. It's a gift with a message of purpose. The crosses are all made from old, re-purposed wood (fences, barns, discarded wood). All of them made my hand. From a man who has lived out what he believes and believes in what he builds. In the recent spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for a father who is committed to his faith, unshaken on the foundation of Christ, and living out his beliefs even in front of his family.

You can "like" Chameleon Designs on the right toolbar of my blog. Visit the Facebook site or email me if you are interested in ordering a cross. We will ship.

John 10:7 "Then said Jesus unto them again, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.'"

John 10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in

and out, and find pasture."

Revelations 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,

and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,

and he with me."

Black Friday

Here's to the longest, craziest day of the year -every year. Here's to over half of the Christmas shopping list successfully checked off. Here's to a very early family, Cracker Barrel breakfast date. Here's to long lines. Here's to the hustle and bustle. Here's to the drum of excited voices as the doors are unlocked or the paper is ripped. Here's to the prize worth waking early (or staying up late) for. Here's to the smile it will bring. Here's to the feeling of conquering. Here's to knowing the meaning of "shoppers rush home with their treasures". Here's to Santa hats, Christmas sweaters, and reindeer ears the day after Thanksgiving. Here's to the tradition of Black Friday.

Thanksgiving

Many thanks. For many blessings. Thanksgiving was a gift.

I'm thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.  

I'm thankful for my precious and wonderful husband who continuously amazes me with his joy, kindness, leadership and immeasurable fun. Who is slow to anger. Always patient (Even when I am incredibly frustrating). Keeps no record of wrong. Who I can always trust.

I'm thankful for my wonderful family, the family both here- my parents who have done so much. My sister who always brings a smile-  and there - I miss the family there very much, but Christmas has big plans this year.

I'm thankful for friends. Friends who send me Thanksgiving cards with reasons to be grateful, friends who let me be a part of their wedding celebrations, for those who are there always, and for those who go the distance to stay in touch.

I'm thankful for a job. A job where I grow and am stretched. A job where I find joy each day.

I'm thankful for dreams. The hope and courage they bring. For memories. The inspiration they create.

I'm thankful for traditions.

I'm thankful for laughter.

I'm thankful for time and health.

I'm thankful for my past, present, and future.

I'm thankful for the grace I am given and the mercy I am shown.

The blessings are countless.

My family is more fun than I can capture into a few words. They are more loving than a blog could express.

Thanksgiving was truly a day of many thanks to God.

A turkey made for Hollywood

They are the reason the holidays are always so magical

My sis and brother-in-law

Love TC

Family pic

In honor of the true spirit of Thanksgiving. Everyone joined in.

Feast time

Baxter looks comfy

Last minute prep

Waiting on Britt to arrive with an early Christmas present

We've always been this crazy, thanks to our parents. We've now passed it on to our husbands. Our kids will love us.

Letters from friends

Thanksgiving Eve

It's Thanksgiving Eve. It's also late and everyone has gone to bed. I should be there too so I will feel rested bright and early, but it feels appropriate to reflect on the day. I want to record what I've done so I'll always be able to look back and reminisce on the traditions of my family. Reminisce as defined by my google search is to "Indulge in enjoyable recollection of past events." Perfectly defined. I want to always indulge enjoyably in all of our good memories.

Sis and her husband are coming in the morning and I can hardly wait. Mom and I spent the day getting all of our casseroles and pies ready. The sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese bake, broccoli casserole, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, red velvet cake, dumplings, dressing, turkey, cranberry sauce...divine. Usually the same menu every year. Slight variations, but usually these are the traditional dishes. And because they are traditional, I love them. Actually, I love them because these dishes are absolutely delish. I wait for this combo every year. My two favorite meals - Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner - the two meals that deserve the "you've out-done-yourself" reaction, the "how will we ever eat all of this" response, the "this is my favorite food ever" smile, and the "I've waited all year for this" excitement. Christmas dinner looks very close to Thanksgiving's, but with even more food... Amazing... 

Nanny and Papa came this afternoon and joined in on the baking and taste-testing. After dinner, TC, mom, and I went to retrieve an early release of the Thanksgiving Day newspaper. This is the second year our local newspaper has done this. It's been quite a success. Tonight the lines were massive and moving slowly, so mom and I decided to walk the rest of the way. We divided and conquered. Good thing...they were running low! We did not go through the paper when we got home, primarily because of... tradition (surprise!)- that's a Thanksgiving Day activity. Instead, we started another activity...but that's a secret. Until tomorrow....

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my dear friends and family. Count your blessings. We have many.

Dinner prep

Downtown's Christms spirit

Not the only one's with this tradition

Our Thanksgiving Day newspaper



What are they up too?

                                       

Tannenbaum

Again, Christmas decorating in my family traditionally begins in November. Thanksgiving break begins tomorrow for both Trent and me, so we decided to use yesterday afternoon as an opportunity to decorate. My sister and her husband will be in town starting Thursday, so I will be spending most of this weekend enjoying their company, out and about in the hustle and bustle. We do not have a ton of decorations so it did not take us long.

We like our little tree. It's the same tree I had in college - TC helped me decorate then too (little dating lovebirds). We filled it with lots of ornaments, mostly of our "1st Christmas Together" ornaments and all of the ornaments my mother collected for me over the years. Each year, we each picked out our favorite ornament (usually from Hallmark), and each family vacation we each got an ornament (After all, it is tradition!). Mom gathered all of my ornaments last year and gave them to me this year. It was a lot of fun reminiscing, telling TC the story behind each one. TC's mom collected ornaments for him too, but we haven't gotten them yet! Once we do, it will be his turn to share next Christmas.

Our little place does not have much room for too much decorating, but it really does looks so quaint with the tree...Makes us smile...

Engagements

Looking through engagement pictures is really a very enjoyable pasttime of mine. I love the creativity of the photographer, I love the "looks" exchanged between the couples, and I love the personality screamed from each photo. Every set seems different, which might be why I enjoy it so much - like a children's book that doesn't need words because the pictures tell it all. Engagement pictures make me fall in love all over again...

This weekend I had the privilege of taking engagement pictures for my sweet friends, Collin and Jess. I don't usually "do" photography, but this is the 3rd set of engagement pictures I have taken. It started for fun with my sister and her now husband and has become a great way I can show support to friends...enough about me! Collin and Jess are literally the kindest people I have ever known. The kind of people who would do anything for you. They met in high school and have remained together for over 5 years. They were engaged in March of 2011 (I also had the privilege of being there for the engagement!) and will be getting married in November of 2012. We waited for the Fall intentionally for their engagement photos. I'm honored to be a part of their special day, and even more than that, honored to be their friend. Here's a so-called (as the professionals say) *sneak peak* - Enjoy!

Tradition

It's been 17 entire days since my last post. I have not had any computer besides my stationary work computer which is of no use to me after work hours. I'm huge on only using work hours for work related things. Guilt gets to me otherwise. TC has a laptop I could have used, but honestly after typing on it for 5 minutes, even the most patient of persons wants to throw it out of a window. Obviously, I do not acclimate well to "new" ways of doing things. So Pinterest and Blogging have suffered despite the ever pressing desire to do both. Typing, I feel proud I have not let it become a quickly lost art!

Crazy enough, 17 days have passed, yet little exciting news has occurred. I've worked several arts and craft shows with mom - which by the way, she sells the cutest shabby-chic magnetic memo boards and crosses. Honestly, you just have to see them. I'll be getting them on Facebook soon (and hopefully an on-line store). I've been trying to stay present with Thanksgiving holiday as best I can, but Thanksgiving and Christmas have always run together. Some of the reasons being the following: our extended family lives out of town, so because of their visiting for Thanksgiving we just had to have everything decorated because we literally go ALL out (since they do not visit for Christmas, they had to see it at Thanksgiving - make sense?); in the past we left super early for Christmas, so to enjoy our decorations, we had to decorate early. While these things do not necessarily occur now, it's become tradition. Enjoying the Season of Christmas is just incredibly joyful and exciting. Oh...and then there's Black Friday, the ever-so-important Christmas shopping day. It's hard to focus on "Fall-ish" things when you HAVE to plan for Christmas presents! Not to mention EVERYWHERE is officially decorated! It's so exciting! So...I confess...I've already listened to Christmas music this entire week, downloaded a Black Friday app, planned every Christmas present, organized 1 Christmas party, watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and made plans for how to spend the next few weeks with TC enjoying the Christmas season. I can't help it. Christmas is in my genes. And if you've ever met my mother (or my entire family for that matter), you would understand. As everyone in my family says, "It's Tradition."

Festivities

I was committed to enjoying the Fall season this year. In the past, I've been guilty of by-passing Autumn in a hasty rush to celebrate the Christmas season (which I love... even now, I get this really exciting, happy feeling!). My family never ceases to amaze me in the fun we have on and all around Christmas. It's really a two month long holiday, and thus, hard to focus on the Fall in anticipation!  November 1st marks the date of Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer watching, Mariah Carey Christmas music listening, Christmas decoration shopping, hallway decking, and Christmas list making....Before I get carried away.....


 A few more of our MUST'S from our Fall list were met this week!


On Saturday, I helped mom work the Elberta German Sausage Festival. We woke up at 3 am and I had a great burst of energy that lasted until about 8 am, and the rest of the day was a fight! My mother and father make beautiful crafts, so I help mom sell at crafts shows and festivals when able. We enjoyed apple fritters and German Sausage dogs in between customers. Check No.3.
 

Sunday morning Trent and I did "Trunk or Treat." Last year we won first place with our hunting theme! This year there was no contest and we went as Fishermen. 

                                                                                           

We went to a costume party Sunday night with a Bizarro them (which means "opposite of yourself"). My favorite was our friend Matt who felt opposite of himself was to be silent the entire night. He was successful,  but unfortunately his jokes were missed!
    
Sunday night we watched "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" A great wrap-up to this weekend's Fall festivities. 


Because November 1st holds a list of traditions, and leaks into the traditionally Cornelson/Catchpole Christmas season, a recap of Fall festivities seems fitting on Halloween night....


1. Go to a football game, preferably Alabama. We went to the Alabama vs. Vanderbilt game...Roll Tide! (pre-blogging adventure!)
2. Visit a pumpkin patch. Remember the homemade patch?!
3. Carve/Paint/Decorate pumpkins. Did you pick your favorite?
3. Attend a festival celebrating some food of some sort. Sausage Festival won :)
4. Go to a concert. The incredible Downtown date.
5. Make Fall Dinners. I made a basic pizza, but used sausage and red, yellow, and orange bell peppers (fall colors). Apple spiced pork chops (I followed the recipe on the McCormick premixed packs), and Bacon Wrapped Cream Cheese Chicken (This was a HUGE hit...loved it!) with homemade yams...yum!
6. Throw or attend a costume party. Bizarro was the theme I wanted!
7. Get lost in a corn maze. We got lost. Several times...
8. Roast a marshmellow or two at a bonfire. I got to do this twice!
9. Create a Fall playlist (there are actually songs that set a Fall mood). This was a FAIL this year :(
10. Visit a small town and check out their Fall decorations. A second Fail unless you count Elberta...then it was a success!
11. Fix a few Fall-ish Desserts. Monkey bread was the dessert of choice! Canned biscuits rolled in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
12. Have a cup of Fall flavored joe from a local coffee shop. The Jack-O-Latte!
13. Go to an outdoor market. I loved the market!
14. Watch It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! Success! 
15. Go to the Fair (Thank you billboard). We were too tired on the night we were free :(
16. Have a hot chocolate picnic at night so we can star gaze Fall constellations (little bit of a romantic). Fail, but this can always be added on another list!
17. Toast pumpkin seeds (seeing we will have ample). We made 3 different flavors!


I loved doing this list! We will probably do another one for the next season. The list was great for more than one reason -  it made me look for new things to do and motivated me to be more active and creative, instead of letting Fall pass by! Clearly, it is still Fall, and some of these things may get accomplished, but because I know how I am after November 1st, it seems appropriate to wrap this list up. My computer stopped working for me last night and I am just getting to post this...so HAPPY NOVEMBER 1st! I cannot believe it! I loved October. I loved myand TC's adventures. I love that I still have so much to look forward too.