Christmas in July...

 Last week Trista and I stopped at a local restaurant for lunch, expecting nothing more than a quiet meal together. We most definitely were surprised at the scene we saw as we sat down.

In the dining room sat nearly thirty women celebrating Christmas in July. These ladies were impossible to miss! Bright red shirts, Christmas sweaters, Santa hats, jingling earrings, and enough holiday spirit that made both of us excited to see what was really happening...

I wish I had taken a photo of how cute they looked, but I was too involved in watching their excitement... 

This is Texas! The temperatures have been hovering around 100 degrees, and just looking at those sweaters made me start sweating! I honestly don’t know how they managed to wear any kind of sweater without melting into their chairs. But not one of them seemed to mind.

🎄This would be the Best I could do......

The room was filled with loud cheers, and each time one of the ladies would open their gift, there would be a burst of laughter.  Loud? Yes for sure, but it was so fun watching them. Even Trista and I could not wait for the next package to be opened so that we could see their excitement.  

This was a first for both Trista and myself to see a Christmas in July party....but it reminded me that we don’t have to wait until December to celebrate the season of giving. Nothing wrong with a little Christmas spirit in the middle of a long, hot summer.  It breaks up the routine, and I suppose it gives friends a reason to gather.

My brain was thinking the entire time about what fun gifts one could give for a Christmas in July party...  And the good thing is (😂) you could find plenty of Christmas wrapping at Hobby Lobby..

Do you think that this is why this store puts out the Christmas paper so early in July?  just kidding!!

Who says Christmas has to be snowflakes and fireplaces? This party looked like sunshine, fun Christmas wrapping and some really neat homemade Santa hats!

While watching those ladies, I realized that joy doesn’t necessary belong to a season. It belongs to the people who choose to create it. These adorable ladies were not waiting for December to celebrate friendship. Instead, they made an ordinary summer afternoon feel like a holiday.

Maybe that’s the real lesson of Christmas in July. Celebrate often. Laugh loudly. Gather your friends. Exchange a few thoughtful gifts. Make memories whenever you can.

Have you ever attended a Christmas in July party? If so, I’d love to hear about it! What fun gifts did you exchange, and do you think you could survive wearing a Christmas sweater in the Texas heat?

Shug....🎄🎅

COFFEE AND A GOOD PIE

 

This made me laugh this morning!!  

I grabbed a cup this morning to start my morning coffee...  You know how it is when you first get up out of bed.... eyes barely open, just needing to get some coffee in you.  

It wasn't until after I joined Sam outside that I realized my cup had a popsicle on it!!  It definitely is "Sweet Summertime" but I feel like a nice serving of lemonade or fruit punch might taste better in this particular cup.  

Oh well....I drank my coffee and pretended that I had snowflakes on the front of my cup!!  It tasted pretty GOOD!!

________

Switching Gears Here!!

So, my kiddos were in Florida all last week.. 

They enjoyed the beach and all of the FUN things that go along with being on vacation..in Florida.

Our family has taken many vacations to Panama City and one of our all time favorite places to eat is "Captain Anderson's."  

If you are looking for GREAT Food, great service, a great atmosphere....AND the BEST desserts in Panama City, then Captain Anderson's is a must!!

Well.. Shanda, Tom and the family once again visited this awesome restaurant while they were there.  Not just once....but twice!!

One of my favorite desserts from there is the coconut cream pie!!

Guess What?

They brought back a WHOLE coconut cream pie for Sam and I to enjoy!!

LOL.....we did share with Trista and others that stopped by.  

We live 11 hours from PC, which is 704 miles away.

Tom and Shanda....purchased a styrofoam cooler...they froze water bottles the night before they were to head home, placed the frozen bottles in the bottom of the cooler and set the pie on top of them.   

This pie....was PERFECT when it arrived here at my house!!  

This is what I call LOVE.  

_____

Well friends...the temps today are suppose to reach near 100 degrees.  A dip in the pool will most likely happen...

NEW WEEK...NEW BLESSINGS...NEW OPPORTUNITIES!!

HAPPY MONDAY...

SHUG...

Saturday Accomplishments

 Happy Sunday, friends!

Yesterday morning, Trista and I made an early trip to Hobby Lobby, arriving just after the doors opened. Wow…I felt like fall had completely taken over the store overnight!

Not My Buggy!!

 Pumpkins were everywhere—tiny little pumpkins, giant orange pumpkins, velvet pumpkins, pumpkins in every color imaginable. And if that wasn’t enough, Christmas decorations were already making their grand appearance too! Y’all…it’s still HOT here in Texas! It’s hard to wrap my mind around pumpkins and Christmas trees when we’re still sweating through triple-digit temperatures.

Our mission wasn’t to shop for fall, though. We were there to pick up the last few things for Tori’s upcoming Bridgerton-inspired bridal shower. I’ve been making the lighted centerpieces for the guest tables, with two centerpieces to be on each table. Yesterday afternoon I settled in and got busy. I’m happy to say I’ve finished 12 of them…only 8 more to go! Seeing everything come together is so exciting, and I can’t wait for everyone to see them.

Once we finished shopping, we walked next door to Chicken Salad Chick for a quick sandwich. It couldn’t have worked out any better—good food, great company, and just enough time to recharge before heading home to tackle the rest of the day’s projects.

It turned into one of those wonderfully busy Saturdays where you’re constantly on the go, yet by the end of the day you can look around and say, “I really got a lot accomplished.” Those are the best kinds of days.

Now we’re looking ahead to another week of true Texas summer. The forecast is calling for temperatures around 101 degrees with plenty of humidity. Whew! That’s definitely not my favorite

kind of weather.

No place to sit at this table for sure!!!

I hope each of you has a beautiful Sunday. Take time to slow down, count your blessings, and enjoy this day that the Lord has made.

Have a wonderful day, sweet friends! ❤️

Shug......🌻

Just Coffee

 I’ve noticed something lately… my coffee tastes have changed over the years.

There was a time when I wanted to try every new flavor that came along. Now? I’ve become wonderfully simple.

Just give me a hot cup of black coffee, and I’m happy. No fancy syrups, whipped cream, mocha drizzle, or iced concoctions. Just rich, steaming coffee in my favorite mug. I enjoy the comforting feel about keeping it simple.

Of course, the world of coffee is endless these days. Whole beans, freshly ground blends, single-origin roasts, flavored coffees, K-Cups, espresso machines that look like they belong in a café—you can make coffee a hundred different ways.

Me? I’m perfectly content with a good, honest cup of black coffee.

Now I’m curious about all of you.

☕ How do you make your coffee?

☕ Do you grind fresh beans or reach for a K-Cup?

☕ Do you have one of those fancy espresso machines?

☕ And most importantly… what’s your favorite way to enjoy your morning cup?

I’d love to hear how everyone enjoys their coffee. 

Coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s a little daily ritual that starts my day.

"My favorite coffee recipe?  Hot, Black, Peaceful."

Shug.....🍩