Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from the Harris family! 

We had a wonderful day going to a church we love being a part of, and enjoying a meal with friends on the mountain.

So thankful that Jesus rose for us this day so many years ago! He is Risen!

The 4th of July Without Fireworks

...what's up with that, anyways!

Yesterday we worked all day and we considered going to Temecula for fireworks (and groceries, lets be honest) but I thought by the time we get down there it would be 8pm and probably no parking close by the park, so instead we stayed home :) I'm really good at making excuses to stay home, especially now that we live an hour from everything.

First I had to construct a red, white, and blue outfit. I don't wear much blue, and I don't own ANYTHING red so I made a makeshift bow out of my craft drawer! I actually ended up liking it though.

At work we had a parade, each department made their own "float" and we drove around the loop once. I thought it was going to be really dumb, but it ended up being a blast!!

Us office girls led the parade, we were all "Miss Palomar" and sat on the back of a BMW convertible. It was hilarious.

I have to say my favorite was the maintenance crew though, they all brought out a tractor thing or riding lawn mower and rode them around the loop. Zach led the crew in the skid steer and would do twirlies going backwards sometimes. He cracks me up :) I so wish I had a picture of them but I was too busy waving to all my fans (haha!) Edit: I found one on Facebook ... look how manly my hubby is :)

Anyways, we ended up on the couch last night eating nachos for dinner and watching 50/50. Have y'all seen that movie?? I cried through the whole thing but I really liked how it ended. Of course my favorite part was the love story intertwined through it and it made me all snuggly for Zach afterwards. I know, I'm pathetic.

Overall it was a fun day! Next year though, we have to find fireworks. It will be baby Harris' first 4th! I'm thinking we'll have to do a beach day like Jamie, she is a wise one with that idea!

But, did you hear what happened at the San Diego fireworks show?? Oops, better luck next year.

He Is Risen Indeed

I love Easter. It is the most meaningful holiday to me, as it symbolizes Christ rising from the dead, proving he is the Son of God.

This was our first holiday all by our selves, and I will admit I was pretty lonely for our familes. Zach's parents and grandmother were with his sister and her family, and my parents had all of our extended family over for dinner.

I had big plans for our first Easter as a married couple; at Target last week I tricked Zach into picking out his favorite Easter candy (ps. after three years, why do I still not know what it is?!) and also letting me buy Easter eggs. Z always goes to bed before me, so I was going to do a little egg hunt Saturday night for him to wake up to Easter morning. Welp, I ended up falling asleep on the couch with him so that did not happen! I'm actually dissapointed about it :(

Sunday morning, we drove to San Diego to pick up my sister who wanted to come to church with us. Church was not your typical Easter service. We did sing a lot of worship songs about Christ rising from the dead, but the sermon had nothing to do with Easter (??) I was a little surprised! At the end, they did cardboard testimonies, which I love! It's so meaningful to see how Christ has totally healed people!

After church we hung out at our little house, I worked on finishing up my garden outside, and later we had a bonfire outside. It was just perfect. We also got to skype with Zach's family and finally meet baby Will! We FaceTimed with my family, and Cara and I got to say hi to everyone there :) We even dressed up in matching Easter outfits...

hahaha cute I know!

And lastly, we hung a hummingbird feeder outside and it's pretty much my favorite thing in the world. It's amazing how much joy the little things can bring!

See him!? so cool!

A Southern Christmas

For our very first married Christmas, we decided to spend it with Zach's sweet family. Originally, I was okay with this because I knew I'd be coming home to my family even if I didn't spend the actual Christmas Day with them.

Well, then we moved. So needless to say, I was a little emotional about being away from my family for the first time. I haven't seen my family for two months and I wont see them for another two months and I miss them. So much. But luckily for me, I am beyond blessed by my inlaws. I could never have dreamed of a better family to join!

So here's our week in pictures :)

Red sparkly Shellac manicure, Christmas lights, making homemade caramel, the stocking my MIL picked for me!

lots of sleeping, bonding with Logan, and a new tradition of Christmas Eve jammies!

clues to find hidden gifts, friends, and a book from my husband

our first married Christmas, southern dinner [!!], Zach and his awesome dad, and my beautiful Sister in law[who might slap  me for showing her belly..that I'm obsessed with]

Overall, it was amazing! I wouldn't trade last week for the world and I'll say it again, that I LOVE my inlaws!

We Grow Up So Fast

Do you ever wake up one morning and realize, "holy crap, I'm actually growing up" ?

Yeah, me either. More like while I was walking around the other day.

I was working alone and reminiscing about Christmas growing up full of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, fires, hot tubs, and laughter. Both my parents come from huge families so there usually wasn't a quiet moment around the holidays. Both sides of my family are so so special to me but I always loved going to my dads parents house because all of us cousins are only a year apart.

Now, when I think back to holidays growing up I have little snippets of memories (my family has never been one for many pictures) but mostly it just makes me feel warm & fuzzy thinking about what an amazing family I have on both my mom & dads side; happy, healthy, supportive, and loud.

So anyways, back to my point. I was working alone the other day going through the memories in my head and all of a sudden it dawned on me that I literally will never be in those places again. Since my adolescence, one grandma has passed away, the other grandparents are snowbirds and won't come north for Christmas, and all of us older kids have pretty much scattered around the country.

What I realized is that Christmas will forever look different. I don't know when exactly all that happened, but never will I wake up in the loft to the smell of my grandma's breakfast (always including bacon!), surrounded by cousins. Never will we drive from California to Washington to spend Christmas morning with my mom's parents.

But, as I realized all this, I didn't feel sad. I felt so excited for the future and blessed to have sweet memories of the past. I can't wait til we have a bunch of kids to take to THEIR grandparents house, to sleep with their cousins. And until then, we will spend holidays alternating parents, who happen to live on opposite coasts, and enjoy the new meaning of Christmas as a married couple. Im so looking forward to making memories with my husband and his sweet family.

Here I sit on a plane headed East, missing my own family, and excited for learning about what Christmas has looked like for Zach while he grew up and getting to spend time with my wonderful in laws.

Merry Christmas, y'all :)

Snowflakes That Stay on my Nose and Eyelashes [Favorite things December Edition]

It's time to share a few more of my favorite things! I just get so excited about them I feel like you all should know about them too :)

1. Nordic Pine Soy Candle 
smells like a real christmas tree :)

2. White Choc Peppermint Creamer

my favorite holiday latte, out of my very own fridge. swoon.

3. Sunsets Like This [even better in real life. this photo doesn't do it justice]

4. That my iPhone Screens Are Christmasey 

lock screen

home screen

5. Homemade Advent Calendar [awesome wedding gift!] 

Thank you to Laura Lester. You're amazing.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

How The Glitz Stole Christmas!

First things first, thanks to Lindsey and Raven for hosting this awesome swap! These are two of my must read blogs, they are both hilarious!

I joined this game a little late when I saw Lindsey's tweet about how someone's partner had dropped out. I am so glad I did. I got paired with Kristin & Camie of Twist of Dazzle, and we managed to swap gifts in time for today's link up. These ladies blog about all kinds of cute DIY projects, decorating etc. I already love their blog!

Here's my loot:

They wrapped it so well I didnt even want to open it! [Note to self: work on presentation]

Here's what I saw when I opened up the pretty box. Oh la la!

Here's a spread of all the goods! A phone clutch, "H" ornament [love], pink glitter nail polish [currently wearing], three types of bracelets [!!!], super swaggy earrings, and ELF eye make up!!! Score!!

Thanks again ladies, and Merry Christmas!

I Made Stuff: An Ornament Wreath.. My Way

My floor is covered in glitter (its even stuck in my husband's beard) but this wreath turned out awesome! I made the mistake of glancing at a tutorial before hurrying to get my supplies, and halfway through realized there is a much easier way to make this. But nevermind that, let me show you the more difficult, more time consuming, more OCD inflicting way that I made my wreath!


First, gather a TON of ornaments. If you think you have enough for two wreaths, buy more. Trust me. Everything you'll need:

• glue gun
• lots of extra glue sticks
• foam wreath form
• ornaments, ornaments, more ornaments
• a flower if your heart desires (mine did)
• ribbon

Pretty easy, right? I bought all my ornaments at the 99 cent store, and everything else at Joann's. For 50% off. Score!

Ok so let's get started, why don't we.

the first genius thing I did was pour all my ornaments onto the kitchen floor. so that my floor would be covered in glitter and my kittens could run and slide into them 400 times and hour, clearly.

second, listen to what other people say and spray paint your wreath before glueing ornaments to it. I missed this step and regretted it immensely. it prompted the first bout of OCD to cover all green foam I could possibly find.

other people say you should glue all the ornaments around the outside and inside perimeters, but I took it upon myself to do it my own way. I just started gluing. It seemed to work. I did the a few on the inside, then worked my way around to the outside, and kept my wreath flat on that blue box to make sure it would also hang flat against the wall. here's where the second bout of OCD came in. I wanted it to look like the ornaments were randomly thrown on there, but my little mind couldn't do it. so I made sure not too many silver/gold/white were by another, and also no shiny/matte/glitter were next to one another.

once I was about ready to give up, I decided to add a poinsetta. it helped me gain back my sanity. with that sanity came the realization that my life would become easier if I glued the ribbon on before the ornaments, so I added ribbon. I doubled up on thin ribbon because I forgot to buy thicker. from here I just kept gluing, gluing, gluing until I reached the end!

bam. take that ornament wreath! I actually think it looks pretty dang awesome.

Let me know if you decide to make one of these babies, I'd love to see your variation! And incase you were wondering what the easier way is, its to hang all the ornaments by their tips on a wire hanger, then form it into a circle. areyoujoking? Oh well, I still like mine :)

What are you crafting this season? 

If I Had a Million Dollars

I've been planning this post all week, preparing to show you readers how I would decorate my house if I had no budget. I've searched the Pottery Barn, Pier 1, and World Market websites just to show you photos like this

and this

and this.

I was planning to write all about how magical and glittery and warm and fuzzy Christmas makes me feel, and how I'd love to place those all of those items in our home, if only I was fortunate enough to afford it all.

Now, let's rewind. We are searching for a new home church down here, and both are getting discouraged with the ones we've tried so far. We were blessed by an incredible community at a church for 4 years, and recently switched to a non denominational church in Seattle prior to moving down here. We adore the pastor there, still listen to his sermons online, and are having trouble finding someone who can compare. We pray about this everyday, and both our hearts are just hurting, yearning for a church to call home.

This morning we drove a little further to try a church that looked promising. We really enjoyed the worship (I'm picky) and then they turned on the video screen. Immediately I was turned off; I like the pastor to be standing in front of me, not feel like I'm at the movie theatre... Anyhoodles, the pastor started talking about a ministry the church has in Mexico to feed children whose parents either abandon them, don't come home from their nightly work with drugs sex or crime, or who just can't afford to feed them. These children live in 6'x8' storage units. Most of the doors have been broken off and are replaced with pieces of broken wood or abandoned buildings. These kids just stay in their storage units, all lined up next to each other (I envisioned a row of prison cells when the pastor was telling all this) and hope their mothers come home that morning to unlock the door.

Last year, the church's ministry there had enough money after feeding 400 children, to get each child a gift worth 15 cents. They felt bad for only giving each child a pencil and a candy cane. When those kids realized they each got a pencil and a candy cane, they shouted and laughed and jumped up and down! They were so excited to get a gift of a pencil and candy cane tied together.

Here's where I broke down. I felt so incredibly ignorant, selfish, and materialistic. My heart was broken for these children. I ugly cried in church while the pastor on the TV screen talked about the Mexican kids. Not only do they live in storage units hoping that their parents to come home each morning, but they are cold. Most of them don't own any blankets and sleep on the dirt floor. Insert more ugly cry. Do you know how many blankets I own? I just bought a heating pad yesterday because I didn't think my blankets were warm enough.

I will say now, that I am so incredibly thankful for where I was born and the family I was born into. I am so thankful that we can afford to stay warm and cozy, and to brighten our home with Christmas decorations. I have parked my booty on that heating pad and fully intend on keeping it there.

But in the midst of the season of giving, I have been reminded that it's not all about me. It's not all about fulfilling wish lists. For thousands of people just 70 miles south of me, their wish list is much simpler than mine. So today, while shopping at Target with my wonderful husband, we bought a blanket. A big soft fleece one to send to Mexico. It feels so small and insufficient compared to how much is needed, but for now it's what we want to give. I can tell, though, that this is the beginning of something pulling at my heart strings.

I love the Christmas season, I love the lights and the decorations, I love the friendliness it brings out in strangers. It's so easy to focus on the cheeriness of this season, but this morning, my friends, my heart was broken for this season. I needed to share my heart with y'all. But mostly for myself, to look back and remember how I felt today, remember these kids and be reminded that I am incredibly blessed, and have the means to share with others.

So in the midst of my broken heartedness, I will rejoice that there are ministries reaching these children and many other children each day. I rejoice that our God, our King, cares. He cares about you and I, and He cares about those we don't even know about. Our God is big, so big, and he will provide for those kids, I just know it.

"But God will never forget the needy,

nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish." 

Psalm 9:18

My Christmas Wishlist '11

Welp I've been compiling a list of things I want for Christmas this year in my iPhone and decided it's time to put it all down on "paper". Since I just started blogging I thought, "why not make a post about it!?" just because I can. I love blogging!

So here it is, the wishlist for this year.

Dear Santa,

a. Unconditional Love perfume.. I can smell it when I think of it and it's my favorite Philosophy scent!

b. Black Boots from Target.. I decided on the cowboy style, thanks to those who helped me choose

c. Eddie Bauer Aah-Some Fleece.. I'm in love. I lost my North Face fleece 2 years ago and I love this to replace it!

d. Winter White Infinity Scarf .. loving it!

e. Hummingbird Feeder .. for outside our kitchen window. I sound so olddd!

f. Black Puffy Vest ... !!!!!!!!

g. Dance Central .. for our Kinect, so I can burn some much needed calories

h. Pretty Off White Blouse .. I love the flowy style that's in right now

 i. Rust Colored Cardigan .. not to brag, but I look great in this color!

j. Cozy Slippers.. my feet get so freezing up here

Well, I could always come up with more. Not that I need any of this! Stay tuned for my Christmas decor; I'll post it this week.

Through the midst of choosing gifts for my family (some homemade, can't wait to share) and choosing gifts I would like to receive, I try to keep focused on the fact that this month and holiday are a celebration for our Savior. Without His birth, we would all be a big hot mess. I am thankful for His daily grace and forgiveness in my life.