Anniversary Weekend Getaway


Hello friends.  Doug and I are away this weekend celebrating our thirty-third wedding anniversary.  We are visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  We have been to Biltmore twice previously with our family, but this is our first solo trip and our first trip during the Christmas Season. 


I ordered tickets to the Candlelight Christmas Evenings at Biltmore Estate late last summer.  The Estate can be visited during the day throughout the Christmas season, or for a special treat, you may purchase Candlelight Evening tickets. 


I am looking forward to seeing all of the rooms decorated for the Christmas.  I confess that I am itching to decorate my own home, though somewhat LESS dramatically than the Biltmore decorators!  I have been receiving daily updates on decorating and seasonal events at the Estate... building the anticipation.


Did I mention that prior to our eight o'clock evening tour time we have dinner reservations on the estate?  I will have to keep you posted on what all of the details.


The Candlelight Evenings are supposed to include seasonal entertainment throughout the house:  dancers, choirs, and musicians, all to the glow of candlelight.


Did I mention that you can also take sleigh and carriage rides?  You can participate in many outdoor activities during the daytime hours.  Biking, hiking, and horseback riding to name a few.


 Info about Candlelight Christmas Evenings:

November 7, 2014–January 3, 2015

Explore Biltmore House during holiday evenings when candles and fireplaces fill the grand home with a warm glow, accenting delicate ornaments and priceless treasures with metallic shine and sparkle, and music warms the heart. This year, book a Candlelight Christmas Evening at Biltmore to make holiday memories with your family that will last a lifetime.
Your evening admission includes:
  • Reserved evening visit to Biltmore House
  • Daytime access to Biltmore Gardens and Antler Hill Village & Winery on the same day as your evening visit or the next day
  • Free parking


For more information, including ticket prices and other details, click THIS LINK.  Remember you may also make your dining reservations and hotel reservations on the Biltmore website.


 http://www.biltmore.com/visit/plan-your-visit/buy-tickets/candlelight-evenings

Fall Baby Shower for Baby Avaleigh


Hello friends. Today I am going to share with you some of the details from the baby shower my mom and I hosted for Bethany, John, and baby Avaleigh!  The baby is due in mid-January so we decided to host a baby shower before everyone becomes entangled in their holiday madness.  With that in mind, and the advent of beautiful warm, clear fall weather, we decided on a fall themed outdoor baby shower!


As much as I hoped to by-pass the craziness of everyone's Thanksgiving till New Year's schedules, I still selected a bad weekend for the baby shower.  So many people were out of town for one reason or another.  But our friends being the AMAZING women that they are, they dropped off or mailed gifts to arrive for the shower!  How wonderful is that?


We decorated with fall colors and served a variety of fall themed foods.  In addition to ham salad and egg salad finger sandwiches, we also had corn casserole muffins, a savory pumpkin shaped cheese ball with crackers, a sweet pumpkin cheese ball (which tasted like pumpkin cheesecake) severed with gingersnaps and graham crackers, a veggie tray and dip, chips and dip, and a create our own caramel apple station.  I put put honeycrisp apple wedges on skewers and had a small pot of war caramel with several toppings in which the caramel apple wedges could be dipped.


For beverages we severed an apple cider sangria as well as sodas and assorted bottled waters.


I must tell you, baby Avaleigh is going to be one well dressed baby when she arrives. Bethany and John received so many adorable outfits, baby gadgets, tools, diapers, and nursery decor, they were thrilled and overwhelmed!


John stayed for the entire shower, assisting as needed and opening several of the gifts.  He is so looking forward to their baby girl!


We passed around most of the gifts so that everyone could get an up-close look at all of of the darling baby girl clothes and gear. and oooh & ahhhh appropriately! Below MFK, my friend Kathy, admires one of the sweet outfits Avaleigh received.


After the shower we took a few minutes to snap a few family photos. Below are Bethany and I.


Avaleigh should be feeling the love in the photo below.


And of course, John and Bethany are thrilled about becoming parents!


Thanks for stopping by today.  I still have projects to share with you this week, so check back soon!