work is a bit of a circus, but careful steps are being made for the next step.  it’s still a little unknown, but a significant change is close, and i am eager to see where it takes us.  i don’t want to miss these in between days, though.  they are important.  husband and i are happy, and so much is possible.  i am loving our version of the white picket fence.

happy weekend!

We’ve had rare snow days off of work :: time to finish apartment projects, stay in pj’s all day, bake lotsof oatmeal-cranberry muffins. This is our view from the front door this morning:

A few things make snow days even nicer.  Chili is one.   Girls nights at the Stevenson’s are another.

Happy winter.



arbonne FC5 nurturing day lotion 

i use this morning and night and not even hope in a jar can compare.

arbonne FC5 hydrating eye creme i’ve been using arbonne washes, moisturizers, and eye cremes for about 6 years. it is nice to not only love the results, but to also know the products are pure and safe.

clairol perfect 10 hair color { i use 4 dark brown } shiny shiny glossy glossy!

smashbox photofinish foundation primer. i use smashbox for nearly all of my makeup. { i know, i know. most likely negates everything good/healthy/safe i had going on with arbonne, but whatever } this primer is probably my favorite smashbox product.

urban decay 24/7 eye pencils. urban decay comes in a close second under smashbox when it comes to products in my makeup bag. i love their rock n’ roll packaging and most of all, their eye pencils. i am not very talented when it comes to applying liquid eyeliner, so i love the way these pencils glide on and gracefully forgive any of my application mistakes. my favorite shades are Stash and Rockstar.

nearly everything l’occitane is lovely and smells so good, but i especially love their verbena lotion and shower gel. i started getting l’occitane products as a little girl in my stocking. i thought it was so grown up to have my own smell-good bars of soap, and keep their little lotion bottles in my purse. now, they are some of my favorite products, not only because of Christmas memories, but just because they are simply lovely.

enjoy now more deeply, consciously (plan for the future, but hold it loosely) :: use fewer plastic bags :: run :: wear lipstick to be fabulous :: have compassion where it isn’t obviously needed (hi, boss…family…coworkers) :: hold my material possessions loosely – do not let them own me or determine choices I make.

our little tree smells so good and looks beautiful.  we combined some ornaments we had each have had for a while, and added gold, purple, and indigo ornaments. the combination of colors was perfect and although i am a nut because of how much i love live christmas trees and coordinating wrapping paper, it makes my December so happy.

visiting the Christmas lights on the Square is a tradition we love. this year did not disappoint, camel and all.

Christmas breakfast is very, very, very important.  at least to me. naturally, i want to make it important to us. we had Christmas Eve morning all to ourselves. Husband is a very good gift giver and stocking filler.

the next celebrations were at my parents’ and then with my dad’s side of the family.  there was lots of love, presents,coffee, food, repeat.

Little Sister was exceedingly pleased with the print of a photo of her cat, Jack.  {Jack is the perfect cat}

my dad wraps his own gifts and is notorious for getting impatient and using his own “materials” to wrap items for under the tree. this year, Husband’s gift was no exception.

new pillow covers!

Christmas stockings in okc usually involve useful items such as heart-shaped sunglasses and “lady” hammers.

terrible photo, but this is me in my first formula My Private Jet. be still my heart.

the best thing about the holidays are the memories remembered and made, and family being together. the best thing about Christmas is the expectation and thankfulness the birth of Christ brings.

“the soul felt it’s worth”.  it’s true.

thank you for your children’s clothes that let me imagine how perfect my offspring could be one day.

love, mollie

(in Vancouver, successfully honeymooning. the trees were brilliant and bright. the city was clean grey and glass. the ocean sparkled.  it’s an incredibly beautiful place. and i’m not just saying that because we’re in love.)

1. Last week we heard Bill Bryson speak at a nearby performing arts center. I felt grown up going to hear one of my favorite authors talk and read excerpts from his books. It was cozy and good for my soul.

2. The most recent Sephora sale event resulted in a box of delightful new products and free samples on my doorstep. While I reveled in my replenished Smashbox and Philosophy supplies, Husband worked through the fact that a few ounces of liquid can cost lots and lots of dollars.

3. Boyfriend has not died, he just turned in to Husband. I am now calling Boyfriend ‘Husband’ here because, well, we got married.  Although I still call him Boyfriend sometimes in real life.

4. Husband and I have been together for 13 months. I think we’re good at it. 13 months and I’m still waiting on our first “disagreement”/”heated discussion”/”argument”.  I hesitate to say “fight” because people who love each other should never “fight” – by definition.  I’m sure it will come, and it will probably have to do with reality television vs. football.

5. Almost every day I think about how happy I am that the wedding is over and I don’t have to think about it any more.

6. I want to make a Chocolate-Pecan Tart this weekend, and that means I need to make the crust today.

7. We received one of these as a wedding gift and I adore it. I have only used it to keep butter warm and to cook garlic so far, but I keep it out on the counter because it is PRECIOUS.

8. I can’t wait for this upcoming week to start.  It means the HOLIDAYS are here.  Turkey & cranberry sauce, a new family to be a part of this year, my family’s crazy email exchange of Christmas lists and then the glorious shopping for people we love (I LOVE Christmas shopping), the Christmas tree farm with Husband and cutting our own, twinkle lights, Little Women (the movie), deciding what theme I will wrap my gifts in this year (leaning toward brown Kraft paper with red and deep purple ribbon), deciding on my and Husband’s stocking, sweet potato pie, Christmas morning cinnamon rolls, the music.

9. International Princess Project

10. I love ginger peach tea.