My Christmas Wishlist

Hello Gorgeous friends! Happy Monday, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving weekend.  I have been enjoying this Holiday season so much! I've already wrapped gifts and am getting everything ready for Christmas! Today I wanted to share with you my Christmas wish list. These are thing that I LOVE and have wanted for a while. Some are practical while others are a dream I am hoping Santa brings a few of these things on Christmas Eve! ;)

My Christmas Wishlist by krista-lenaem 

Naked Basics  // Kate Space iPhone Case // Kendra Scott Logan Studs  //Kate Spade // Naked Smokey //Maroon Necklace-Target //Nikes // Cast Iron Dutch Oven

What are you wishing for this Christmas! Share them with me in the comments below! 

Krista 

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello Sweet Lovely Friends, I hope to find you in the midst of a great Wednesday. I am a busy bee getting my house all ready for my Thanksgiving guest's tomorrow. But today I want to take time to share with you what I am most thankful for.

This last year has been a crazy one in my life and in the lives of those I love most. We have been in a season of constant change and uncertinty. I know that God has an amazing plan and purpose but if I can be honest I have been struggling to see it. Which brings me to the to this: I am thankful for a God that loves me despite my struggles and anxiety.  He loves me so much that even though I fall short of His glory everyday He sent His only son to die for me. That He still loves me even when I can get caught up in the worries of this world and forget to see his perfect plan for me. I have been reminded by Him that I am not alone. He goes before me, He will never leave me. His love and forgiveness is something I am eteranly graeful for.     
                                                                              

I am thankful for my family. Especially me sisters. They are my heart and my best friends. They have made me the person I am today and their support and encouragment means everything to me. They love the Lord with every inch of their being. I looked up to them in a million ways. My heart is filled with emotion when I think of how grateful I am to have them in my life.

I am thankful for my Home, that I have a bed to sleep in and food inmy cupboards. I have a car to drive and a great group of frineds that encorage me and uplift me.

I am thankful for my Job, that everyday I get to wake up and do somthing that I love.


And I am so very thankful for this Blog and for YOU! This blog even though is still pretty new it has been a place where I get to share my heart with you all. I get to meet so many wonderful people and build community with others. That is my hearts desire. I am thankful that you come back and read and share life with me.


I wish for you a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy this time with the people you love the most. I will be taking a little break to spend time with my family, but am SO Excited to be back Monday with my Christmas wish list! See you all then

Krista 

December Bucket List



Hello sweet friends! The holiday season is here and in full swing. I LOVE it. This is my absolute favorite time of year and I try to absorb as much as I can during this season. So today we have a "special addition" if you will of my seasonal bucket list. I love to have a bucket list for each season. There is something so fun about writing a list and enjoying the fun things that enhance the season.

I normally just do a bucket list for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. But I like to do a special one just for December and make it festive for the holiday season. So without further ado here is my...

December Bucket List:

 

* Drive around and look at Christmas lights

 

* Drink Hot Coco

 

* Bake Christmas Cookies

 

 

* Watch Elf

 

 

* Go Sledding

 

 

* Host a "Favorite Things" Holiday Party

 

 

* Read "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

 

 

* Listen To Christmas Music

 

 

* Watch The Grinch

 

 

* Buy and wrap Christmas gifts for a family in need

 

 

* Make a sugar cube house with my niece

 

 

 

So there you have it! I can already cross off a few (lets be real I have been listening to Christmas music since Nov. 1st!) I hope to cross off the rest in the next few weeks and make lots of Christmas memories!! What are some fun things you like to do during the Christmas season! I would love to hear about them!

 

Krista 



 



Five on Friday!

Happy Friday!!! I am so excited for the weekend. Next week I have a short week at work and then it's Thanksgiving!!!! I cannot wait to spend time with my family, eat yummy food, and watch my Packers play! This year Thanksgiving will be at my house so I will be spending my weekend preparing and tacking my To Do list! Today we are linking up with A. Liz Adventures for another Five on Friday!



One//  This year I am hosting Thanksgiving for my family. I am so excited but a little nervous about thawing and cooking the Turkey. So if you have any tips or tricks that you can share please feel free to leave them in the comments below! It would be greatly appreciated! :)

Two // Last weekend we had a pottery painting night at my church. It's always the best time. We eat yummy treats and just paint for hours, I never knew how therapeutic it could be. I painted a cute Christmas plate and a coffee mug. I can't wait to see the finished product!

 

Three// Last Sunday my heart could not wait any longer and I decorated for Christmas!!! I will give you a full house holiday tour but here is another sneak peek

 

 



Four// I'm digging this Plaid Shirt Dress from Old Navy right now! I am hoping that it will go on sale this Black Friday and then I will snatch it up real quick!

Five// #PrayforParis: In the wake of the devastation that happened in Paris one week ago today I encourage you to continue to pray for the families and people of Paris. My heart aches for those who lost loved ones and for the people of Paris. With Thanksgiving this next week hold your families a little closer and remember all the things we can be thankful for.

Any fun plans you have for this weekend? I would love to hear about them. Have a great weekend sweet friends!

Krista 







Top Five: Favorite Books

Hello lovely friends! Today I want to share with you my Top five favorite books. I love to read yet I find that I don't do it as often as I should. I need to get back into the habit of reading a new book at least every other month if not every month!


One// Little Women: I love this book, I have read it and re read it a hundred times and it never gets old to me. This is a classic that everyone should read.

 

Two// Crash the Chatterbox: This book was apart of a small group I was in last summer at Church. Anxiety is something I struggle with sometimes and this book helped me to not listen to the anxious thoughts in my head, but to continue to trust God and listen to His voice. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three// Gone Girl



 

Four// The Circle Maker

 



 

Five// The Confident Women



 

 

Do you love to read? What are some of your favorite books. I would love to know a great recommendation if you have one! 

Krista

My Morning Routine

Good Morning pretty friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine went by fast but it was exactly what I needed after a long week! If you saw my Five on Friday post I mentioned we had a pottery night at Church. It was so fun, I painted a cute Christmas plate and a coffee cup for someone as a Christmas gift. I can't wait to see how they turn out! This weekend I also decorated my house for Christmas!!! I will share with you a full holiday home tour but for now I will give you a sneak peak!

 



It was extra cozy last night, I snuggled up and watched a Hallmark Christmas movie! It was the BEST!




But now onto today's post. I have had a lot of request from you guys for my morning and night routines. I am a girl that needs consistency and to have things organized so I tend to stick to a schedule. So without further adieu here is my morning routine.



I am up really early for work, so I usually shower the night before and  make sure all my alarms are set! I tend to hit the snooze button so I always set an extra alarm (or two) just to be safe!

 

 

By 4:30 I am awake with a cup of coffee in hand! ( Side note LOVING this new mug from the Starbucks Holiday line. Gold and leopard print. yes please!) 

 

 

Then I was my face, brush my teeth, do my hair and a quick 5 minute makeup!

 

 



 

 

Since I have to wake up so early I try to have my lunch and breakfast packed the night before so all I need to do is through it in my bag and be out the door! 

By 5:15am I in my car jaming out to the radio. Today it was Christmas music. And on my way to work.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes a quick stop for another coffee is necessary...... 

 

 

 

Then by 5:45-5:50am I arrive at work and am ready to start my day! I hope this helps get to know me a little better. I'll share my night time routine with you guys in a few weeks! Do any of you have to get up really early for work? Any tip or tricks you can share! I am always looking for new ways!

 

 

 

Happy Monday!!

 

Krista 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Five on Friday

Good Morning sweet friends, Happy Happy Friday! Can you believe another week has come and gone. I had such a good week and I have some fun things planned for this weekend I can't wait to share with you. As always we are linking up with  A. Liz Adventures    for another Five on Friday!



One// Tonight we are having a pottery night at my church and I cannot wait. Do you know how relaxing it is to just sit and paint. And adding your best girls and yummy treat makes it all the more fun! Keep a look out next week for pictures of our painting night.


Two// I picked up some new nail polish this week, they are Revlons Bewitching and Vixen I can't wait to try them out and let you know how I liked them!

Three// I went "Shopping" this week at my house to spruce up my living room a little bit. I love to go through my decor pieces and redo my space with things I already own.



Four// Anybody else as excited as I am for the holiday candles from Bath and Body Works!!

 

Five// I love me some Mexican food, this week I tried a new taco bake recipe that I will share with you! Look for it next week on the Blog.

 

Do you have anything fun planned for your weekend? I would love to hear them!

 

Krista

 

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DIY Buffet Table

Good morning and happy Wednesday friends! Here we are at the middle of the week and I have a fun DIY I want to share with you that I worked on a few weekends ago. Any chance that I get to put my own stamp on something I take. I love when something is personal to me and when I get to share that with others it makes my heart so happy.

For a While now I have been wanting some sort of buffet table in my dinning room. Something that could help store some of my decor pieces and my special china that I got from my great grandma. For a long time I was just going to buy something, with all the great and cute options out there I could have easily found what I was looking for. But there is something so fun about taking an older piece and making it new again. So with my budget set I ventured out to find what I was looking for. Side note here it took forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to find what I was looking for. Countless stops at each thrift store in our area. But when I found it, every trip that was unsuccessful became worth it! That is the one thing I would encourage you with. Don't settle, wait and find exactly what you are looking for because it will be so worth it in the end.


Here is what I used...
Annie Sloane Chalk paint in Old White
Varathane Wood Stain in Kona

 I found a super cute dresser at one of the local thrift stores in town. And at $24 I knew this was a steal and would make the perfect buffet table in my dinning room. I snatch this right up.

 

 

 

 Here is the dresser before... 

 

 

 

A funny picture of my sister and I. We forgot to take measurements so we quickly learned this would not fit into my car. But one call later our friend was on the way with his truck to help us get it home!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My super cute sister all ready to sand, paint, and stain.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hold up.... I know what you are all thinking... Sand? I thought one of the great benefits of chalk paint was you didn't have to sand... Correct! But I wanted to do a little something extra on this table with some left over stain I had at home  we sanded down the top and use the Varathane stain in Kona to give it a rich and sophisticated feel. Then we wiped down the dresser and used 2 coats of Annie Sloane chalk paint in Old White. I didn't wax the dresser after, I didn't think it needed it.

 

 

 

 

Drum roll please.......

 

 

Here is the dresser after! I would still like to get new hardware for it but I could not be happier with how it turned out. It is the perfect piece for my space!

 



 

 

And here it is in my dinning room!

 

 

This project was so simply anyone could do it!

 

Hope you all have a great Wednesday!

 

Krista

 

I'm to Busy

How many times have you said this to someone or have had it said to you? The infamous "Sorry I'm to busy." We all live really busy lives and sometimes it seems like if we don't have a a lot of things planned or we aren't busy enough then something is wrong with us. Do you ever feel like that? I know sometimes I do.




Yesterday at church our pastor preached a sermon on loving your neighbor and having community with people. Personal/y I love community. I need community. I love to do life with people and grow with them personal/y and in our relationships with Christ. But how can I do that if I don't make time.

 

We need to stop the glorification of being busy.

 

Why is it that we think being "busy" is a good thing. Yes we all have important things that need to be done but taking time away from that to be with your family, spending quiet time with Christ, or inviting someone out to dinner just to do life with is so much more important yet we never seem to find the time.

 

Pastor Jon's sermon yesterday really made me think about how I can make the time on my schedule to do what God has called me to do which is to simply love others. He made a point that even if someone sucks the life out of you. Love them. Speak life into them. I can do a better job at that. I can be better at spending more time with my family and shutting off social media, the TV, clearing my schedule to have dinner with them or talk to them on the phone. Even if I really just don't have the time that day, sending someone an uplifting text message can be all they need to make it through that day.

 

I encourage you to stop the glorification of being busy and to simply give people your time. Love them, encourage them, uplift them, and show them Christ through your actions.

 

Happy Monday Sweet Friends I hope you have a great week!

Krista

 



Five on Friday

TGIF friends!! Anyone else think this week has gone by so slow!!! I never want to wish time away but I have been anxiously awaiting the weekend and I'm so happy happy it's finally here! We're linking up again with A. Liz Adventures for another Five on Friday!

One// Yesterday my sweet little niece turned 1! I cannot believe it has already been a year since she was born. She is has brought so much joy to our family and this auntie loves her so! On Saturday we will be celebrating her birthday with family and friends. It's going to be a little pumpkin theme and I cannot wait!



Two// How was your Halloween! Mine was awesome, we had so much fun at our Church Trunk or Treat! If you didn't catch it on social media I went as a Cheetah and had the best time. After we went home and ate yummy Chinese food and watched Hocus Pocus one last time this season.

 

Three// Speaking of Halloween costumes I found the cutest shoes at Target this week and the best part..... they were only $5.98!!!! I firmly believe that leopard is a neutral so I snagged a pair in my size and they also went perfectly with my costume!

 

 

Four// On Sunday after church we went to one of my favorite places for a hike. We all gathered in the truck and drove out but made a quick pit stop at Starbucks because #redcups. The Starbucks red cups are my favorite so we had to stop and grab a warm beverage before we went on our hike.

 

My Sister and I

 

Five// This week on the blog I wrote a post on thankfulness. With Thanksgiving just around the corner I think it's extra important to sit down and think about the things we are most thankful for in our lives. But I also think it's important to not just limit our thanks to one day and to remember that God has called us to be thankful in everything. As a part of the #30daysofthanks I want to say that I am thankful for this blog. I know I have only had it a small time but I love that I get to share life with other people that inspire me and that I get to allow the overflow of my heart be released through my blog. What are some things your thankful for?  I found this cute print out on French Press Morning  and I love it!

 

 

So happy Friday sweet friends! Do you have anything fun planned for your weekend? I would love to hear about it!

 

 





 

Krista 

 

Thankful

I love the month of November, it's the month before Christmas and my birthday. And if you couldn't tell by now how much I love Fall well then I don't know what more I can do. But the biggest reason I love November is Thanksgiving. Growing up I didn't have the best home life. I won't go into to much detail but my life was far from perfect. But I was thankful. I was thankful for my life, for my family, and for a God that loves me unconditionaly.

How often do we take for granted the things in our lives that we should be thankful for?

 

 

 

God clearly calls us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we are to give thanks in EVERYTHING. Even when things don't seem to go our way. Be thankful. When life seems like it is more then we can handle. Be thankful. When it seems like you have nothing more to give. Be thankful.

 

 

 

This last season my life has been in constant change.  Not only my life but the people that are closest to me. Our worlds have been flipped upside down. Everthing that we have known is gone and life will never be as it was. I know there have been many times I've had to repeat this verse in my head over and over again. And you know what... it's hard. It's hard somtimes to find the grateful moments or the moments of thankfulness. But if I know anything it's this.... My God is faithful, and the promises he has made to me are yes and amen. And that in and of itself is something to be thankful for. That God loves me so much he gave everything for someone like me who falls short of his glory everyday. That is the greatest thing to be thankful for.

 

 

Every year on social media I see the #30daysofthanks. I encourage you to sit down and think of all the things you are thankful for. And to not limit your thanks to one day.

 

 

Today I am thankful for the people that God has placed in my life. They have blessed me more then they will ever know and have helped to shape me into the person that I am today. They know who they are, and I love them so much.

 

What are you thankful for?

 

Krista



Lately

Here are a few snaps of my life lately!

My backyard  looking so pretty with all the leaves!

Trying a new pumpkin recipe!

 

Wanting to purchase a new chair for my living room and thinking this is the winner!

 

One of my favorite home interiors stores Kirklands have their Christmas decor out! This makes my heart so happy!

 

Found the cutest leopard shoes at Target and the best part they were on sale for $5.98

 

My Halloween Costume 2015!

 

 

Took a hike at one of my favorite places!

My sweet sister and I

 

How was your Halloween weekend! Can I tell you how happy I am that Starbucks has their Red Cups out!! We made a pit stop there before our hike yesterday! Hope you all have a great Monday!

 

Krista