Christmas at Biltmore

I have wanted to experience Christmas at Biltmore for years and this year we made it happen!  We had the opportunity to visit and I couldn't say yes fast enough!!

The weather was pretty nice, slightly chilly but at least it wasn't snowing!

I always love the center with all the plants, those windows!!

The banquet hall was beautiful!!  That tree was HUGE!!

This is the Breakfast Room, my kinda place, a room just for breakfast ;)

My favorite room in the whole house, the library!  So many books and it is so cozy.

I told Kyle we should have counted all the trees in the house, they were EVERYWHERE!!

Mrs. Vanderbilt's room, can I move in??

I loved this tree, all the stars hanging around were so whimsical.

We smelled this before we saw it...a gingerbread version of the Biltmore House!  I loved it!!

So many cute Christmas details!

We finished with the house right before the sun set so we caught that beautiful golden hour light.

We also picked up an apple cider that was delicious!!

Such a gorgeous view, mountains as far as you can see.

We made sure to stop by Antler Hill Village on our way out and as soon as we drove up I fell in love.  There were lights EVERYWHERE and it was so magical!!

This tree was the most amazing thing!!  So many lights and it was beautiful just to walk through.  They also had a fire pit and you could roast s'mores.

So magical!

We had such a great time, Kyle kept mentioning how much he enjoyed it.  It was a great start to our Christmas celebration.  Have you been to Biltmore?  What is your favorite season to visit?  I have now been spring, summer and winter.

My Favorite Valentine's Day

I've always liked the idea of Valentine's Day, all the pink, chocolate and flowers.  

I have so many great memories of picking out those cute cards for my classmates, making boxes to hold valentine's and classroom parties.  Even more sweet memories of my mom making a special breakfast and giving us Valentine's, now at 27 she still sends me a Valentine ;)

My favorite Valentine's day, however, was when I was in college.  When a special guy brought me a beautiful rose, cherry coke (my favorite), the cutest stuffed giraffe and we started dating.  Seven years later, going into our fourth year of marriage I couldn't be happier.    

Such babies!! 

We don't have big plans to celebrate this Valentine's.  Instead of a fancy dinner date we are heading to Chick-Fil-A for a breakfast date before work.  Honestly I might like that even better, chicken biscuits and iced coffee have my heart.  I'm making a simple (but yummy) dinner.  Who needs a fancy date night out when you can sit in your pajamas eating chocolate lava cake watching the Olympics?? 

Whether you love it or hate it I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

I had to leave you with this picture from Walmart, too funny not to share...

Seriously, Valentine's explosion on aisle 4...

Fall decorating

Just a few highlights of the fall decor in our new home :)

Top 10 Christmas Movies

Looking for some movies to get you in the holiday spirit?  Here are my top 10 Christmas movies, some classic some new.  I hope it gives you some ideas of what to watch this season.

1. The Muppet Christmas Carol: This is probably my all time favorite Christmas movie.  I can quote it word for word.  I love the classic Christmas Carol but add in the muppets and some wonderful songs and you have a movie with heart, humor and one that my family has fallen in love with.  

2. Eloise At Christmastime: I love Eloise, I think she is just adorable.  I loved her first movie but put her in a Christmas movie and add a romantic story line and I am sold.  And really with Julie Andrews how can you go wrong? 

3. It's A Wonderful Life (Black & White Version): Classic Christmas movie of a life changed and the importance of family.  If you haven't seen it, check it out you won't regret it.  

4. The Santa Clause: One of my husband's favorites.  I love the creativity of the story and the lesson of believing in things you can't see.  Tim Allen is also one of my favorites, the second one is good as well with a cute romantic story line.  

5. The Holiday: Looking for a holiday chick-flick?  This one is adorable, not layed out like a normal chick-flick so its creative and quirky.  The characters are great and I love the story line.  This one has a Christmas background but you could watch it all year.    

6. Home Alone: Christmas classic of the poor child left home and having to defend the house with crazy antics (love the cutout people party) and discovers the importance of family.   

7. The Nativity Story: This one is the true meaning of Christmas.  Tells the story of Mary and Joseph and their great purpose in Jesus's birth.  I love how you see the portrayal of Mary and how strong she was.  What I really liked about the movie was seeing the side of Joseph who is left out a lot, he was such a strong man of God to go through the things they went through.  Their faith is an example to all of us.  

8. A Charlie Brown Christmas: Classic Charlie Brown Christmas because "That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown" who better to hear it from than Linus?

9. The Christmas Miracle of Johnathon Toomey: This is a movie I only recently discovered last Christmas.  We had the book when I was younger and I always thought it was such a sweet story.  I don't' want to spoil it for you but it is a redemption story that just might come with some tears.  

10. The Original Christmas Classics Gift Set: I am probably cheating with this boxed set but you can't have Christmas without the classics (Rudolph, Frosty, Santa Claus is Coming to Town and The Little Drummer Boy)

What are your favorite Christmas movies?  I am always on the lookout for new ones.  Let me know suggestions!