Christmas in New Orleans

After five long years, we finally made it back to NOLA for a long awaited visit with Rob's family. Maddie was introduced to the city we both love so dearly and had a great time (then she got sick. Oh well it was good while it lasted!)




Maddie checks out the forecast before boarding the plane to New Orleans.



St. Louis Cathedral decked for Christmas.



Coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde.




Maddie and Mommy cuddle up over beignets. She really only liked the "flour" on top.



Maddie has a muffin in the PJs on Tulane campus. Over her shoulder is the exact spot where Rob and I first met.



Maddie sits under the oaks at Newcomb.



Maddie has lunch at her namesake --La Madeleine at Riverbend.

Ok, it looks like all I did was take pictures of Maddie eating. But Rob took more so there will be a part two to this post.

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Counting Down Part II

Advent calendars have always been a big part of my family's Christmas traditions. We usually had a very traditional advent calendar, like the kind with the little Christmas snow scene accented in glitter, and little quaint pictures behind each window. I remember vividly when someone I knew had a chocolate-filled advent calendar -- being just a little bit jealous, but still the magic was in the simplicity.

When I got to college, my Mom did the most awesome thing for my best friend Melisa and I. She gave us advent gifts to help us count down not to Christmas, but until the day we got to come home. She gave us each one gift for each day of December that we would be in New Orleans. Most of them were simple things -- little Christmas decorations, a Christmas wall hanging, a CD (or maybe it was a tape -- I guess I'm dating myself). Each gift was wrapped up and we would open them together. I still remember how incredibly exciting that was and how much it meant to Melisa and me. We still talk about it and it is something I hope to do for Maddie some day.

This year, my Mom gave Maddie an awesome Eric Carle calendar that I talk about here. And she also gave us a quilted pocket calendar that I've stowed away for next year. But I've seen so many advent calendar ideas lately on Pinterest that I am seriously contemplating having a few calendars around the house.

Here are a few of them:


Originally posted at AubreyandLindsay. Each bag has an ornament for the Christmas tree.


Originally posted at HowDoesShe. I just really like the modern graphic look of this simple calendar.


Originally posted at KatherineMariePhotography. I love this idea. Wrap up 24 Christmas books (new or old -- it doesn't matter) and each night unwrap one to read. My Christmas book collection needs to grow a bit before I try this, but maybe by next year!

Pinteresting

I'm setting myself a little new Christmas resolution. I know the Christmas season has just arrived, but I'm actually feeling the pinch a little bit. I took on a very ambitious Christmas gift craft project that is taking me way too much time (but is also really fun!) That means that all the super cute decorations that I have pinned over the past many months over at Pinterest, are not going to happen this year. So I'm already looking ahead to next year. So let's just see... Next year, when I look back at the blog in say November, will I have made these things?:


Originally posted on TwoJunkChix.


Originally posted on StumbleandStitches here -- and by the way, this was the right idea, because it was posted in July! When I should have started crafting Christmas decorations apparently.


Originally posted here at ravelry.com. There's a pattern, but I'm telling you right now I'm faking this one with felt.

Felt is my new best friend. In fact, that's part of my huge Christmas craft project. I can't share any details yet, because it's part of a Christmas gift for someone and I don't want to spoil the secret, but...

This whomping pile of felt gave me goosebumps down my spine. It's so exciting. And I'll tell you, I ended up buying even more felt than that. But I'm getting a ton of projects out of it all. Stay tuned for more!

The Christmas Waltz

Lately I've been doing a lot of dancing with Maddie to Christmas records. She's memorized all my choreography and seems to want to switch partners.










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