Happy New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve!  What are you up to?  We're heading out on the town for dinner, drinks, and dancing - I seriously can't wait!  I have a feeling 2015 is going to be a good one, celebrating so many exciting adventures for the people I love.  2015 - we're ready for ya!

Be safe everyone, and have a Happy New Year!  Back next week with resolutions, recaps, and much more :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Early Christmas Celebratin'

The boy and I decided to celebrate Christmas together on the 23rd before heading off to celebrate with our families for a few days.  I made one of my faves {Pasta with Sausage & Broccoli} and we popped open a bottle of champs that I had gotten for my birthday.  After dinner, we exchanged gifts then snuggled up to watch one of my fave movies, Love Actually, by the tree.  It was the perfect first Christmas to spend together and a great way to kick off my favorite holiday :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Merry Christmas {from the elves}

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! My week went by way too fast, but for a little taste of our holiday, here you go :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours the most wonderful Christmas holiday :)  Cheers!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Christmas at Home

 {wrapping mess}

 {christmas cards + a messy kitchen}

 {finally finding a use for the antlers}

 {a new favorite sign in the dining room}

 {my favorite christmas candy + the yummiest smelling candle}

 {poinsettia}

 {making my favorite christmas cookies}

 {a new ornament for the top of the tree}

 {the tree!}

 {presents}

{my favorite coffee in my favorite mugs}

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Slumber Party

I am beyond excited to see these 3 ladies tonight  {and their fellas} to celebrate the holidays - and us all being in the same city for the night.  They are my absolute faves, and when we had a slumber party at my house on Black Friday, we stuck with tradition and spent the end of the evening having a silly photo shoot {see last few times here & here}.  Even though they're blurry, the laughing ones are my fave.  Don't you just love girlfriends? :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy {almost Christmas} Weekend

What are you up to this weekend?  My holiday stay-cation starts at approximately 4:30 this afternoon and I seriously cannot wait.  I have a busy weekend ahead, including saying farewell to a dear friend who's moving, going to my favorite holiday show, and watching my Rammies hopefully kick some Utah butt in their bowl game.  Oh, and then there's that whole holiday to get ready for :)  I hope you have a wonderful winter weekend!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

pic from our walk through the city last weekend, where we ran into a soap machine acting as snow :)

Happy Birthday Kami!

Happy birthday to one of my sweetest and oldest friends!  I hope you have the best day ever with your sweet and beautiful family - how lucky your birthday falls during your favorite time of year!  Love ya :)

xoxo,

stephanie marie

pic stolen from our crazily talented friend Jenn

Birthday in December

For my 30th birthday this past summer, Mom & Dad generously gifted me a new purse.  However, it's taken me this long to actually find a purse that I couldn't wait to call my own.  This Rebecca Minkoff Mini Quilted Affair Crossbody bag arrived on my doorstep a few weeks back and I'm already so in love.  It can be worn as a shoulder bag or crossbody, and it is the perfect size to hold a phone, small wallet, and a bright lipstick for a night out.  While I've collected a lot of bags throughout the years {and don't plan on stopping anytime soon} this one is quickly becoming a favorite.  It's the perfect bag for the holiday season - guess it was a good thing I waited so long to pick it! :)

Thanks Mom & Dad!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Pathway of Lights

Saturday night, we braved the crowds and cold with Erika & Joe and headed down to Greenlake for the annual Pathway of Lights walk.  We filled our mugs with hot cocoa and marshmallows {and a few splashes of Bailey's} for the walk around the lake, and I think we all were shocked with just how many people were out.  The entire lake was lined with candles in paper bags every 10 feet or so lighting the way, and several times along the way we stopped to listen to carolers singing some of our favorite songs {and a few weird new ones}.  We all vowed to get some light up necklaces for next year {pretty sure we were the only ones without!} for what I hope becomes an annual holiday tradition.  This really is the best time of year :)

after our walk, we went past my friend Karl's house that was lit up like the Griswold's!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Hawk Sunday

Another Sunday, another Hawks game....  This week, it was Dad's turn to head down to the Clink with me to cheer on the Seahawks to victory over the 49er's {man, it feels good to watch Kaepernick lose}.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day to be at the stadium {seriously - where is this 50 degree weather coming from?!?!}, and while our guys were off to a slow start, there was no doubt by the end who would be victorious.  While Dad and I have spent many a Sunday down at the stadium, this was the first time he got to debut his new jersey at a game, and I'm pretty sure that, along with my lucky Hawk socks, were what helped the boys to victory :)  It's been so fun to watch the guys play good again that I'm already getting a little playoff fever :)  Next up - Arizona!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy {late} Birthday Gram!

Even though it's a day late, I wanted to send very happy birthday wishes to this pretty lady!  She spent the evening doing a progressive dinner party with some of her closest friends.  Doesn't that sound so fun?!?!?  Girls - we definitely need to do this :)  Happy Birthday, Gram - I love ya!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Christmas Tree

Last Friday, after a week of feeling terrible, we finally put up my Christmas tree.  I won't bore you with many pictures, as it's the same as pretty much every year, but I couldn't help but snapping one on my Fuji Instax Mini - a little birthday present to myself last year.  Though it's not nearly as good quality as my Canon {or even the iPhone, for that matter} it's so nice to have actual pictures to hold and look at {since I'm terrible at getting mine actually printed}.  The first thing I do when I come home at night is plug in the tree, and I absolutely love sitting on the couch staring at the lights and the ornaments that make it so special to me.  The tree seems extra special this year and I know I will spend many nights over the next few weeks looking at it and smiling :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Hawk Walk

During last Sunday's big Seahawk win, we decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather during halftime for a quick "Hawk walk".  We left the Magnolia Village Pub {where we had watched the 1st half of the game with just about everyone else in Magnolia} and headed over to the bluff for a quick stroll overlooking the bay.  As we watched the sun beginning to set, I couldn't help but comment on how beautiful a city we live in.  To be able to see the city, the water, and the stunning Mt. Rainier in the background all during a quick halftime walk is pretty special :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie