Lady Trip

The girls in my family, we love to travel. But, for some reason we really can never get ourselves in the same place at the same time. So this winter we decided that we were just going to make it HAPPEN. No matter what it took. Of course we bounced around a million different locations, but eventually we decided we wanted something that would just be snuggly and cozy and provide optimal giggling time. So, naturally we chose to go to Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. They're only two hours away so we squeezed in both. Both towns are literally to most quaint and adorable things you will ever come across. So, we all buy our tickets and President's day weekend rolls around and we are all beyond excited and prepared to go and then...disaster after disaster strikes.

First, my sister Darci's flight got cancelled. Then mine and my sister Holly's flights got cancelled. Then my sister Reagan's flight got cancelled, she made it all the way to the airport before she found out and then didn't have a ride home or a house key. Then my sister Cubbie had to sit in an airport for a million hours missing a million stand-by flights. My sister Katherine was traveling with a newborn. And my sister Kim's spare car completely broke down, making it so they had to rent a car for her husband to use while she and my mom drove their car to meet us. It was looking a little grim...

But MIRACLES HAPPEN. After waiting on hold for two hours I was able to reschedule mine and Holly's flight. Darci got hers rescheduled after a million hour wait. Reagan got her flight rescheduled. Cubbie finally caught a plane. Katherine made it by without any intense baby freakouts. Mom and Kim drove safely. And two days later than originally planned we were all together!!

And then from there...all things were magical.

Georgia was obviously the star of the trip...she's incredible.

We got to visit the most incredible plantation in Charleston.

She's amazing.

Her name was written on the blackboard since we were in Savannah, Georgia so we couldn't resist the photo...

And of course she's the cutest again...

We took the most romantic historical carriage tour in Savannah...literally the most darling town you'll ever come across.

Her face though...

I'm obsessed.

 This was the home on the plantation... it was seriously a dream.

I may have gained ten pounds this trip because we ate the most DELICIOUS southern food nonstop...

Our hotel was on the beach and those white sands are breathtaking.

I encourage everryyyone to make it out there at some point. It's just too much magic to be missing out on! Also...girl trips are the bomb and I'll never love anyone like I love my sisters. Girls girls girls girls girls!

Cozy.

The feeling when you're mom is hugging you. When your sweetie kisses you. When you're giggling with your sisters. When you're sitting by the fire reading a love story. When you're snuggled up watching the snow fall with a cup of hot chocolate in your hand. When you rest your head on your best friend's shoulder. When you're standing on your porch watching the rain fall in the middle of a summer thunderstorm. When you're playing in the grass with the sunshine on your face. 

When you're surprised by the ones you love. When you're reading a letter from someone you care about. When you're holding hands. When you're laughing so hard you start to cry. When you're wrapped up in cuddly blankets. When you're being held. When you're being taken care of. When you're playing in the leaves when fall comes around. When you're venturing through a pumpkin patch. When you're going around the Thanksgiving table sharing your gratitudes. When you're driving with the windows down. When you're eating chocolate with your girl friends. When you're painting your nails. When you're holding a newborn. When your mom brings you soup when you're feeling sick. When you watch your love play with little ones. 

When you cry so hard it heals you. When your family is all piled on the bed together squeezing in as many memories as possible before bed. When your mom combs through your hair. When you're walking with your toes in the sand. When you're watching the sunset.  When you're cuddling and snuggling.When your Dad sings you your lullaby. When you visit the beach after a long time away. Watching the sun rise. When you're watching your loved ones get married. When you're slow dancing under Christmas lights. When you're sitting on the beach listening to the waves. When you're gathered around the Christmas tree surrounded by the ones who love you the most. When you're watching someone open a gift you worked hard to make. When your love first tells you he loves you. When you realize you're in love. When all sounds drown out and you witness the magic of the moment.When that moment becomes a part of you forever. When you realize everything in this moment is perfect and you hope with every part of you that you will always feel this way. You're experiencing coziness.

I don't know if any of you have ever been asked, "What are you passionate about?" But I used to hate getting asked that question. One day I was sifting through all of the things I enjoyed in pursuit of an answer to this dreadful question. I thought of all the generics: sports, dance, event planning, baking, so on and so forth. As I sat there, pondering about these things, they weren't satisfying my need to adequately represent the word passion. These were more of just enjoyments. They made me happy, but they didn't light a fire within me by any means. Later that same day I called my Mom, which is obviously my first move anytime I feel unsettled like this. I could not comprehend that I was living a life without passion. My Mom, being the most inspired woman I've ever met, brought me to a much needed realization when she shared the following passage with me from a book she had previously read (forgive me I don't remember the book).

A little girl had asked her aunt why she had such a passion for rescuing and restoring old historic buildings.  She told her niece: 

“It’s my fire – Everyone needs to find the one thing that brings out her passion. It’s what we do and share with the world that matters.  Far too many people die with a heart that’s gone flat with indifference, and it surely must be a terrible way to go. Life will offer us amazing opportunities, but we’ve got to be wide-awake to recognize them.  If there’s one thing I’d like most for you, it’s that you’ll find your calling in life. That’s where true happiness and purpose lies.  Whether it’s taking care of abandoned animals, saving old houses from the wrecking ball, or reading to the blind, you’ve got to find your fire, sugar.  You’ll never be fulfilled if you don’t.  One day you’ll do something, see something, or get an idea that seems to pop up from nowhere.  And you’ll feel a kind of stirring – like a warm flicker inside your chest. When that happens, whatever you do, don’t ignore it. Open your mind and explore the idea. Fan your flame.  And when you do, you’ll have found it."
That warm flicker sounded so familiar to me. I know I'd felt it somewhere. And that's when all those moments I shared came flooding through me. Each moment so special and each moment so perfect. Those moments are what I live for. Those moments are what I want to share with the world. Those moments are my flicker. Those moments are my passion. 

Peace, warmth, security, happiness. Coziness.
Creating moments of coziness is my passion. I hope you find yours :)


I thought I'd share a few more pictures of coziness.

 I know I've shared this photo before, but I think one look at this photo and you can feel the most perfect definition of cozy.

Now, these two photos may not make sense for those that weren't there, but if you were I hope you felt the same way about it as I do. I've never felt more magical and cozy and perfect than I did this day, when we celebrated Kath's birthday. My whole family dressed up like the characters of Alice in Wonderland (which is a favorite of Katherine's). Jack, being the rabbit, led her through a "hole" where she was told to put on that skirt you see her wearing now. Jack, waiting for her outside saying "We're late, we're late!" Eventually led her to this table, where she sat at first alone. Then my whole family came out of the house at the same time singing a "Very Merry UnBirthday." As we did you could feel magic filling the air. And once we all sat at the table, there were no words to describe the coziness. These are the kind of moments I hope to make more of.

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope it's a cozy one :)

Real Christmas Magic

Boston

This Christmas my sister was due to have her baby. All the rest of our family was gathering in Santa Barbara while Kath, Nick, and sweet Georgia were all the way in Boston. So, me, Ryan, and my brother Jimmie concocted a plan. Christmas Eve we flew to Boston and while they were out of the house we snuck in (with a key because Nick was in on it) and hid up in their perfect city loft apartment and snuggled on her bed. She walked in and me, Jimmie, and Ryan just chatted with one another like it ain't no thang and then she came upstairs, thinking the sound was from a family gchat from earlier in the day, and soon found us awaiting her arrival. It was the most majestically magical Christmas Eve I have ever been a part of.

Thank you so much Nick and Kath for letting us join you in your perfect home for the perfect Christmas.

I had an obsession with Katherine this trip. I think I stared at her 90% of it because she was literally the most angelic, petite, darling pregnant woman I have ever seen. I still can't get over it just thinking about it. 

 We also got to join in on the new Smith Family tradition of eating German food for Christmas Eve! Nick was telling us about the German way of cooking with this thing called a Raclette. As he's talking about it, Katherine comes around the corner with the a brand new Roclette as a Christmas gift for Nick...Come to find out, Nick had accidentally seen the gift so he bought everything to get ready to cook on it and then started telling us about it on purpose hoping Katherine would bring it out...It went perfectly according to his plan. Haha soo tricky Nick.

This is their perfectly romantic city loft...it's literally a dream home. It's two blocks away from the most amazing mall and a five minute walk to Nick's work. A city life dream.

Every day was completely majestic.

 We got to go to this little town called Rockport, which is where the movie "The Proposal" was filmed. We went inside and they had a little photo of Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds walking right by this same building. The town was literally the most quaint and adorable place I think I've ever been.

Of course we had to make a stop at Fenway which is literally across the street from the school Katherine taught at.

Ryan of course had only one request for his Boston visit...throwing tea into the Boston Harbor...what a patriot.

We also got to visit Harvard, and who knew a university could be so beautiful! Every building was gorgeous brick. Even the student housing was amazing.

We hit up the famous Mike's Pastry. A Boston hotspot with the most delicious pastries on the planet.

 This is Salem...and this is the spot where they burned the people who were accused of being witches...

This is the Samantha from Bewitched!

 We also stopped by the beautiful Walden Pond. We had a little bit too much fun playing on the ice.

And of course Katherine again being too perfect to handle.

We also stopped by the tiny little cabin that Thoreau lived in.

 We also got to celebrate this hottie's 30th birthday! 

And we walked all up and down and through the city...every single piece of it was amazing.

 Kath obsession continued...

 We stopped by this crazy old graveyard and got to see some famous gravestones. This one is John Hancock. Ryan was very excited about it.

It was literally the most perfect trip anyone could have ever dreamed of, except for the fact that I have yet to meet this perfect angel. She was born the day after we left. Regardless of how hard we tried to make her come, she insisted on waiting. But, it's okay. It will only make the day we meet that much sweeter. I can already tell we're going to be best friends. I love you Georgia.

 It was the most magical Christmas I've ever had. Thanks Nick and Kath.

Santa Barbara

Going backwards real quick...We got to spend a few days in Santa Barbara before we cruised to Boston and here are some highlights of that coziness.

 Three most perfect human beings ever.

 Amazing humans. Who I want to squeeze always.

 Sweetest most perfect boy to have ever been born.

 Hot surfer dudes.

 Karaoke madness of incredible passion.

 My perfect sisters in law who are the hottest and most incredible and make me feel crazy because I'm so grateful they get to be mine.

Utah

And finally, it was mine and Ryan's first Christmas together. So we got to decorate our home and of course take some family Christmas pictures (Taken by my cousin Andrea Ann)!!

Our little home.

Stockings made by my sweet Aunt Kaye.

I hope you all had a perfectly cozy and magical Christmas.