Christmas in Nicaragua!!

This year for Christmas Reed and I went to visit family in Nicaragua. 

Yes you read that right, Reed and I have family in Nicaragua. Here is a quick explanation why.  Reeds family are full time missionaries that own a pineapple farm (Piñas de Paz) right outside of Managua Nicaragua. They have been there for about 10 years and it has been a HUGE part of Reed and I's relationship. If you've read any of "our story" you know I've know him almost my entire life and that we started dating while I was visiting his family in Nicaragua. So this country has a special place in our heats, not just because of the people or family but because it has some fun history for Reed and I :) 

I thought I would share some of our trip with you. And maybe some of you will find this country as beautiful as I do and think about visiting my family and their ministry :) 

Basically we had an awesome trip. This was our 3rd visit for Christmas (and my 7th trip in general) but the first where we stayed at the farm for the entire trip. It is a stunning place and was such a delight to stay for the holidays. We didn't plan a lot other than spending time with family. Reeds siblings where all able to come down too so it made the holidays extra special!  

Our first day Reed and his dad got to go on 2 dove hunts and it was a dream come true for Reed. So much so that he came back and picked me up asking me to come along and document the day. This picture shows the field we were hunting and you can see one of the local volcanoes on the sky line. 

Also, check out that view! Thats what we woke up to each morning & yes, where I brushed my teeth :) 

One of the excursions we got to take was to see the Christmas lights in down town Managua. It was CRAAAZY like seriously that Christmas tree was massive! (if you look closely you can see people in the bottom left corner of the second picture.) Our nephew was so cute while checking out the lights! 

Reed and I took some time to recap some of our best memories in Nicaragua. It was really fun to go back and do a few things that we did when we first started dating 7 years ago. The photo on the left was where we had our "first date". We went on a boat tour around some of the islands in Lake Nicaragua. We toured it again this year with our family. The other two photos, with the water fall, are from where we had our first kiss! Reed and I took the tripod and hiked back to the water fall this trip and took some really fun photos. I could have easily overloaded you with cheesy not so great quality pictures but instead I picked two of my favorite :)

One of the things I had never done in all of my 7 visits was take a "real" hike through the jungle around my in-laws farm. Reed goes every year with Juan Carlos and hikes around looking for iguanas and doves. So this year I told Reed I wanted him to take me, just on a beginner level hike. Non of that scaling mountains type junk. As you can see Reed didn't hear my request other than I wanted to hike in the jungle. We hiked 2 hours in to the jungle and 2 hours back out. It doesn't seem like thats too far but just look at what I had to climb through.... The picture on the left doesn't look so bad but basically I'm walking up stairs constantly, thats how steep it was. Do you see the blue and white dot in front of me?? Thats Juan Carlos, he was a beast and I totally couldn't keep up...

To explain the other 3 "hiking" pictures. We came to a spot in the canyon that was nothing but a stone wall with some branches leaned up it. I thought for sure we would turn around... Nope those branches are there to function as a ladder!!! So inventive. The first picture shows that not only did we scale a rock wall with sticks for help, but we also had to make sure we didn't fall back in to that black hole of nasty, nasty, water. The second and third are of me being super unsure of myself while watching Juan Carlos scurry up in rubber boots. But I did it and Reed was so proud he documented it :) 

Basically our Christmas was spent sipping rum and coke, eating fresh pineapple, soaking up the sun, creating exciting memories, and enjoying the company of family in our favorite place! Those 10 days where so fun and relaxing, Reed and I are so grateful for the opportunity we have every other year to travel down to Nicaragua. Now that we are back in the States and trying to get back in the groove of "ever day life" writing this post was a good break. How was your holiday with the family, any new and fun memories made???

Figuring out our Holiday Traditions

So I was asked to be a part of a Christmas Traditions Blog Tour by Rachel with Like A Saturday. She has a wonderful line up with people from all walks of life sharing all kinds of awesome traditions. If you are following along with the tour then you must have just come over from visiting with Colleen at Lemon Thistle where she is sharing her Deck the Halls tradition.  I don't have any traditions involving a pickle like Colleen so this may not be as interesting :) But I'm trying to keep the pace up!

When Rachel asked me to be a part of this tour I was all like "heck yeah my family has so many great traditions this will be so fun and easy!". Then I got the email that my link and photos were due and I had zero idea what I was doing anymore... So I sat down to plan out this post and was like "shoot, we don't have any traditions anymore...."

Now before y'all go and think this is gonna be some sappy sad song post, it's not! 

My family is going through transitions where everyone is growing up but we haven't been grown up long enough to have "families" of our own. So we are all kinda in that weird phase where we don't believe in Santa anymore but we don't have any one to pretend to be Santa for either... It is sad not to believe in Santa or to not have a big hoopla over the holidays with all kinds of traditions. BUT my family has had some of our best and most memorable Christmases in the past two years, and so I think this transition and time of change is really beautiful and I'm not gonna try and force a tradition to make it "feel" like the Holidays. I would rather be stuck in this odd phase where everyone is clueless but enjoying one another :) 

So to all you "new grown ups" that feel lost at the holidays and trying to "choose" a tradition, or all you moms that feel like you need a tradition for your family this year. Chill. Enjoy the season, both Christmas and this time in life in general. Let this year be a time where you all get together and sit around your fire clueless and see what comes of it! Last year we did that and ended up having the biggest Nerf gun war in the history of ever probably. It was epic!! And yes the children involved ranged from age 26-17 plus my grandma got in on some action :) We all had soar cheeks from laughing and mom is still finding "bullets" around the house.

This year we wont all be together for Christmas so sadly our Nerf war can't be a "tradition" but I think the traditions aren't what matter it's the memories you are making from the tradition. So if something doesn't go as planned, or you don't even know how to start just enjoy the time and make some memories with your family. Who knows maybe your own totally unique tradition will bloom on its own :)

Here is a total list of everyone involved! You can head back to the first blog and start all over if you like :) This all started with Like A Saturday and is ending with me! So get caught up fast!!  Visit the Christmas Traditions Blog Tour for a list of each blogger and their links! 

Whimsical Porch & Home Tour Link Up

I don't know if you have caught on yet or not but I've been apart of a Tour of Homes this week! It has been truly awesome and I am so glad that I was asked to participate! The tour is ending today and I highly encourage y'all to join us! Not only can you tour around and visit by going to Like A Saturday but you can also link up your Holiday Home Tour and Projects at the end of this post!! 

In my tour I shared a tiny bit of my new favorite spot. This tour motivated me to really get going on finishing up the house. I mean, it's been six months so it's about time! So I finally got around to making our back porch a porch rather than a garage :)

I think the #1 reason I love this space so much is these stunning windows! I found them over the summer at a thrift shop with my mom and sister. I saw one of the side lights sticking out behind a rack of clothes and knew I just had to have whatever it was! The guys working probably thought I was crazy because I had no purpose for these giant windows but for about $150 bucks I just had to have them!! Reed made a quick frame to hold them up, I sealed them with out door sealant and WA LA a stunning whimsical doorway to our yard :)

Next is this papasan chair and the burlap lights. I got the papasan at a thrift shop (surprise). It didn't have a pillow but for the price I couldn't pass it up! Then I about choked when I learned the price of cushions so I decided to make my own out of a drop cloth and $3 Walmart pillows :) You can check out that tutorial HERE.
But really I think what makes this space glow and seem so warm and cozy is the lights framing the window. I originally intended them to be nothing but Christmas decoration and just thought the porch needed that sparkle for the season. But shoot girl, I'm leaving these suckers up all year round! All I did was find an old dried out branch to hang from the ceiling, then tide burlap ribbon to it so it was just long enough to graze the floor. Then I took my white lights and draped them in the space in between. Pretty simple for how much fun it adds to the space!

Finally is this old box. It is actually an old farm box from Reeds family down in Charleston. It has the name of the farm, Sunny Side Farms, and is beautifully sturdy. Reed and I found it the other day going through some of his families storage and I just had to have it. This beauty didn't need to be in some storage container! Even though it is upside down I think it's a pretty rad "coffee table".

Well, thats the tour of my whimsical porch. I love it and everything is going to stay exactly the way it is. Well, maybe not my charlie brown style christmas tree even though I do love it :) 

I can't wait for some good ole warm southern days to cuddle up with my pup and a good book!

but enough about my home lets see some of yours!! Please share with me some of your rad house tours and Holiday projects! 

Boondocks Christmas Home Tour 2013

I've been sooo excited about this house tour! I have had some of my Christmas decoration up since before Thanksgiving so waiting this long to share with you has been so hard! But if Rachel of Like A Saturday didn't ask me to be a part of this home tour I don't know if I would have decorated the way I did. And I'm basically obsessed with how I got to decorate :) 

Be sure to check out Like A Saturday and be sure to follow all the blogs that have been a part of the tour since Monday! And if you're coming from What Meegan Makes, Christmas Tree Home Tour welcome! If not be sure to head over and check out her beautiful blue Christmas!

Now that you've made it all the way out to the boondocks lets get this tour started!
Our front porch is the perfect southern style porch. Long and deep with loads of room to enjoy the view of our fabulously large yard!

I'll be sharing how I made this easy gas can table, and the day bed out of nothing but left over scraps. Be on the look out for these tutorials in the next few weeks! 

Now that we are in-side our humble abode kick your shoes off and relax awhile!
The tree and mantel are perfect for making a cozy little living room and when we get that Christmas candle going I could stay forever! 

Check out how I made the faux weathered wood boards, the simple natural wreath, and the paper stars.
And don't forget to check out the post on our Natural Cotton and Burlap Christmas Tree!

I love our little Nativity scenes!

Now, do you want something to drink or to snack on?
Lets take a whirl around the kitchen real quick. I've got lots of little vignettes going on :)

Well, if you've gotta go at least it's ending with my absolute favorite spot in the house! We finally got our back porch in shape and ready to use! I've still got some other projects to make it 100% complete but I still can't wait until warmer weather to sit out there with a book!
 

 I've got my charlie brown tree, cozy little papasan chair with my DIY cushion, leaded windows and the best view of my little "santa's workshop"! (studio).
DREAMYYYY

Now be sure to head over to Absolutely Arkansas to continue the Christmas Home tour!

If you didn't make it over to the boondocks after visiting What Meegan Makes then head over now, trust me you don't wanna miss it! 

And don't forget to check back Friday to join us in a Link party and the final homes of the tours!

The Little Drummer Boy

My all time favorite Christmas Carol is The Little Drummer Boy. I mean, who doesn't like it?! It has like the most catchy beat to it and you get to sing a fun drum beat :) I found (what I think) is the best version of this song last week. It was a video going "viral" on my Facebook timeline. But boy I am so glad I chose to listen to this because it has been playing non-stop.

So here is the best version of The Little Drummer Boy by Pentatonix.

Now that all of y'alls minds have been completely blown by that unreal musical talent I have another reason for talking about this song :)

I think, other than the pure awesome-ness of this song, that the reason this song has been on repeat for about a week is because it is how my heart feels. No I don't play the drums and I'm not a little boy. But I do understand the feeling of wanting to come before the Lord and give Him gifts that are worthy of His praise. Sadly, as humans our attempts at gifts will never really be worthy. It doesn't matter if they are gifts of frankincense, gold or myrrh they will never be better than the gift of eternal life that the little baby in a manger gave us.

I've been focusing on this a lot this season, I love giving gifts and want to show my friends how much I honor them. But with out having a steady income it is hard to feel like anything I can do is worthy. I know this is a earthly example but boy does that line "I have no gifts to bring" resinate. I want to give worthy gifts so badly.

So despite the fact that we are poor little humans that have no gifts worthy of the Lord on our own, I think we can learn a lot from the poor little drummer boy. He said he was poor, had no gifts, but asked to play his drum. He wanted to share his talent with the Lord and bless Him in the only way he knew how. I think this song embodies so much of what our attitudes should be all year long. We should be constantly wanting to bring gifts to the Lord. I think Mary would nod constantly if each of us offered up our God given talents in praise.

I hope that I have been able to do that. I may not have a job, or money to buy "worthy" gifts this season. However, God has blessed me with a creative mind and has given me the resources to share it with others! I'm not just talking about my art, or ETSY shop. I've had so much fun with this blog through out this Holiday season. I think he gave me this platform for a reason and I plan on playing it for Him as much as a can :)

Blogging, painting, or building may not be as catchy as playing the drum but I sure do think that it is a way I can praise, and honor the Lord. As long as I play my best for Him I am fully confident that He is smiling at me. 

Now go listen to the song again cause its awesome, but this time really listen to it. Listen to the boy that is giving the only gift he had all to honor the little baby boy that would save the world.

Come, they told me, pa rum pa pum pum
A newborn King to see, pa rum pa pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pa pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pa pum pum, 
Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
So to honor Him, pa rum pa pum pum
When we come

Little baby, pa rum pa pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pa pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pa pum pum
That's fit to give our King, pa rum pa pum pum, 
Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
Shall I play for You, pa rum pa pum pum

Mary nodded, pa rum pa pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pa pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pa pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pa pum pum, 
Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pa pum pum
Me and my drum
When we come

Natural Cotton & Burlap Christmas Tree

Decembers Giveaway is up and going until the 14th!! Go enter to win everything you need to set up your mantel for Christmas!! GIVEAWAY >>>>>>>

I've said this about a thousand times this season but this is the first year Reed and I really get to do Christmas. And what I mean by that is last year we were in school, had an itty bitty house, and went out of the country for 2 weeks for Christmas with his family. So this year I have the time and a little more space to actually decorate! But with it being our first year we didn't have a lot to work with. 

I would love to take credit for this idea but I can't. I have a friend who is an interior designer with Erin Galloway Interiors and she had her Christmas show at the beginning of November and this is how she decorated one of her trees. The natural cotton was STUNNING! She did it a little different than I did, but it was originally her idea so all credit goes to her!

First of all this awesome tree is pre-lit and was originally $200 from Lowe's, buttttttt my hubs worked at Lowe's last year and got it for $40 after Christmas!! I know it isn't super unique but for now it will have to do :) And we have our precious baby to be unique enough for the tree too. While we were putting up the tree Tepe decided to play around in the garland from the Dollar Store. She even put one of her toys (a stick from outside, we buy her toys but she prefers natural) on the bottom limbs of the tree. Ooo this baby girl melts my heart!

To spruce up this pre-lit stiff tree I got out the burlap bunting I made last year. (Last year we didn't have a tree and didn't have room to get one so I made my own out of burlap. Check it out here) I'm glad I saved it because I didn't have any other garland type thing to add! But I just wrapped the tree with it making sure it didn't look perfect ;)
Then I took this bundle (is that what you call it?) of cotton and got Reed to cut off each little bloom. Erin did it differently and actually took some of the entire twigs with the blooms on them and stuck them in to the tree. That made her tree have loads more dimension and I kinda wish I did it that way. But hey, live and learn!

I just love how the tree turned out! I was planning to make some other ornaments and try and buy a few but I love the way the cotton looks like ornaments and seems to glow with the lights. I think I may just leave it all natural this year and pick up some ornaments after the holidays :)

So there is our Christmas tree that cost $40 total! I just can't get over it, some one come visit so we can sit by my tree and sip hot coco!!

Don't forget to go enter the giveaway that Rachel and I are holding! Enter before the 14th and you can win loads of new Christmas decorations!!  GIVEAWAY