Happy Monday. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and time off. I’m sitting here all cozied up on my couch, bags unpacked, traveled in laundry now put away, and watching Sunday night football. I have my new Ugg slippers that Santa I bought for myself keeping my as Mark calls them hooves toasty and I’m happy to be home. I’m also happy to be shopping the Nordstrom half yearly sale. I already picked up this poncho, this scarf and these booties.
My mother has so many great one liners about traveling but one of my favorites from here….
“It’s always nice to travel because it makes you appreciate coming home”. When you live in Florida, you always appreciate coming home am I right? I had such a great time with my sister and her kiddos, kids always make Christmas special. How they wake you up at 630 in the morning and tell you how they heard reindeer on the roof, I mean it doesn’t get any cuter than that! Linking up with Biana for a nice holiday recap.
First, can I just tell you I actually finished a book? I finished a book and I’m halfway down with another one! That’s what happens when I’m in between semesters for teaching, no barre classes to teach and blogland was turned off over the holidays. It was such a nice break. I opened my emails and found minimal new alerts. This was definitely a well deserved break. I feel refreshed and ready to go. I looked back over my pictures from the holiday weekend and found lots of little people and food. Clearly, my brain was on vacation mode.
I got to spend my first Christmas together with Mark as husband and wife.
I got tons of quality time in with my sister. My mini me was wishing for her two front teeth for Christmas.
We eat beautiful meals prepared by my brother in law who has been working on the menu for the past month. I mean home made bagels every morning.
Got a few barre classes in
Explored her quaint town. 
Didn’t make it into the city because it decided to rain, a lot.
Then before we knew it, we were on our way home! I had such a wonderful holiday with my family and spending lots of time with Mark. Seeing him with those kiddos and how thoughtful he is, makes me fall in love with him every single day. I can’t believe 2 years ago we were getting engaged in snowy central park and this time last year we were getting ready to say I Do. Wow, time is flying. The holidays make me all sentimental can’t you tell?
I hope everyone made it home safe and sound from all your holiday travel. Do you travel for the holidays or stay local?
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Time is definitely flying by fast! Those homemade bagels look amazing! It was 81 on Christmas in Texas…today it is 30 and snowing! Would have loved that for a white Christmas, but oh well lol. Hope you enjoy the last week of 2015!
So glad you had a great time with your family up North! The holidays are more fun with the kids that’s for sure! I’m so with you – seeing Gary with my nieces and nephew just makes me melt lol! Happy monday! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
Sounds like a wonderful Christmas! I wear my Ugg slippers everyday, best present ever!
Xoxo,
Whitney & Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
I am with you! It was so nice to just hang with family this weekend! Glad you had a wonderful Christmas!
Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend! Love the pictures from your Christmas celebration!!
Christina :: Simple and Delish
Home made bagels??? Just shoot me! Looks like a really nice holiday with your family:)
Wow, I can’t believe you got engaged 4 years ago. And I thought my engagement was long lol. But that first married Christmas is a special one for sure! Glad you guys had a good one :)
xo, Kristina
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What a great Christmas! Your nieces are little dolls!! Homemade bagels?!?!?! YUM!
Congratulations on your first married Christmas!!! :-) I’m glad that you guys had a fun time. The little ones waking you up.. Chris video taped my nieces coming in to see what Santa had brought them. It was cute. Wonderful photos and love that red dress and faux fur vest too!! :-)
It sounds like you had a fantastic weekend with your family! I can’t believe you had homemade bagels every day for breakfast, I would have been in heaven!
I agree that traveling is great but it does make you appreciate coming home!
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Glad you had such a wonderful holiday with your family! That town looks so cute, loving those red doors! And yes to homemade bagels!! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
I’m glad you had such a great Christmas! Travelling over the holiday really does make you appreciate home.
Sounds like the perfect Christmas and a great break from everything for a little bit :) I can only imagine how good homemade bagels are– and love that picture of you and mark in front of the tree!
Looks like an adorable Christmas! Love how perfectly the red door matched your red dress :)
Time flies, doesn’t it?
Family time is always what we need to break up the hustle and bustle. You and your sister look so much alike!
You read a book and a half?! Who even are you? Haha, that’s awesome. It sounds like you had a wonderful holiday break. I saw that pic of Mark and the kids all cuddled up on the couch on snapchat and was like, awwweeeee!!! So sweet. Your nieces are adorable. But let me tell you, there’s nothing cute about that 6:30 wake up call everysingleday of the week when you’re a parent!
Sounds like such a relaxing holiday, those homemade bagels look to die for!
I’m so glad that you had a great holiday weekend! We travel all over the place, too, so I hear you about there’s nothing like coming home. Your sister’s kiddos are just too adorable!
So glad you had such a great trip and holiday! It’s so sweet that you spend Christmas with your sister!!
Homemade bagels?? Never even considered it lol. Better than regular bagels, I would imagine.
So glad you had a fabulous Christmas! And as great as family time always is, there really is nothing like coming home. Now I’m off to shop the Nordstrom sale – Happy Monday!
Homemade bagels every morning?! I’d have a hard time leaving! Your nieces are too precious!
What a wonderful Christmas! Glad you got to spend some quality time with family!
Reindeer on the roof. (: I seriously can’t wait for those days. I mean, I can. Right now we always have to wake our little one up. She hates getting up early. (; Not to mention she wanted to nap in the middle of gift opening. But yes, I totally agree that kids make Christmas time magical. Home made bagels. OMG yum! So glad you were able to enjoy the holiday with family. You and your sister look so alike!
Your family is too cute! Your little niece looks so much like you! Family time is always good for the soul!
you and your sis are TWINS! i love it. looks like a wonderful holiday!
i totally agree on the travel quote about coming home. it was so great to get home yesterday even though i had a great time away. you guys look too cute and looks like y’all had a blast!
xoxo cheshire kat
I was kind of so jealous of your first sentence. We are still traveling and have a 12 hour drive home yet. Hope you had a great holiday.
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Looks like you had a great holiday. Jealous of the family chef! Thanks for sharing a few snaps from your holiday!
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What a wonderful Christmas! There is something really exciting about your first married Christmas! Love that red dress with the fur vest! xo, Champagne&Suburbs
Sounds like a perfect holiday weekend. You and your sister are twins! And I love my new slippers as well. I’m keeping cozy in this -4 degree weather.
You and your sister look like twins! Isn’t it so great seeing your hub love on your nieces/nephews? Melts my heart into a big puddle!! Sounds like you guys had a great first married Christmas! Xoxo
what a lovely christmas with family, including your first as a married couple :) you and your sister look so alike!
It looked like an awesome time with your fam! Loved seeing the snaps throughout the weekend, and all of the cuteness happening with those littles!! :)