Christmas Cookie Swap

Before Christmas my friend Kim hosted a cookie swap in her home. We all brought cookies to share and came home with a delicious assortment of Christmas cookies. It was a great night with the girls. Thanks for hosting a fun night Kim!


Putting our cookie boxes together.


Kim and Carissa with the final product.


All of us.

Happy Holidays!

Design*Sponge Holiday Tour

I am a huge follower of the Design*Sponge
blog and its author Grace Bonney. Every so often they come through Philadelphia with some sort of event and every time it is sold out before I get a chance to sign up. This time around I GOT IN! It was a wreath making class followed by a holiday party/book signing. The night was held at the Anthro/Urban headquarters at the Navy Yard..always a fun venue!


Grace Bonney!


The wreath making.


Navy Yard holiday decor.


The small decorative details & food were to die for!


Decadent hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows.


The final product on our door.

Christmas in our Loft

The day after Thanksgiving Ben and I headed out for a little low key Black Friday shopping. For the first time since moving to Philly we decided to get a tree. We are always home in Minnesota for the holidays so think it is pointless to go through all the trouble, but this year decided to enjoy it for 3.5 weeks before making the usual road trip to MN.




Lumberjack Ben.


Berlin ready to help.


All set up...and the presents are wrapped and ready for the long trip to MN.

Thanksgiving in KSQ

This Thanksgiving Ben and I were invited to spend the day with our good friends Kate and Jordan along with Jordan's parents who were visiting from Minnesota. It was a delicious spread and great company in the cute town of Kennett Square PA (KSQ). Thank you Helmbergers!


Helmbergers/Brandenburgs


The cuttest host...Fritz.


Thanksgiving dinner.


Egg Nog!!!


After dinner gaming...too much fun!

The Brandenburgs take DC

A few weekends ago we were able to spend Sunday in DC with Ben's two brothers and their families. It was fun to all be together...a rare occasion. And loved meeting our niece Ariana for the first time!


Brandenburgs.


Ben and Elise white water rafting on the XBox.


Toni with Ariana and Elise.

Friends & Flea Markets

A few weekends ago the men from our church were on a retreat so my girlfriends and I decided to make a girls weekend out of it. On Saturday we headed up to the famous Golden Nugget Flea market and cute town of Lambertville, NJ for a day of shopping, eating and taking in the fall foliage. So thankful for these ladies in my life!


Randomness everywhere.


My favorite Flea Market find.


Lambertville, NJ


The girls.


Lunch at the delicious Ennis Market.


Checking out the local real estate.


Afternoon pick me up.