Christmas Card Carousel 2015

Hello there blog land! I know I've been absent this year, but we have been so, so busy soaking up every single moment, and just living. I have missed this sweet community though, and I have been very much looking forward to this day. Today, I'm linking up with Faith from Walk With Me By Faith for a fun Christmas Card Carousel! This will be my 4th year linking up, and every year, I thoroughly enjoy looking at every one else's sweet Christmas cards! Thank you Faith for keeping up this fun holiday tradition!

 

 

 

 I didn't think it was possible to top last year's Christmas cards, but I should have known better. My friend Holly, owner of Artsy Occasions, never ceases to amaze me! She is my go-to gal for any invitation, card, announcement, party favor, decor... you name it- she does it. And does it well! We always get so many compliments on the things we send out, and it's all thanks to her.   

 I knew that this year, I wanted something different. Something fun. Something out of the box. But I didn't quite know what. I had already decided which picture I wanted to use- it was one of my favorites from our family photo session we had this fall. It was actually an impromptu picture that we did while trying to get Crew to smile, that stinker! And, it turned out cuter than I could have ever imagined!

I knew I wanted the picture to take up the entire card this year. I also wanted a fun shape. We've done square. We've done rectangle. We've done round. So, when Holly mentioned the unique scalloped shape, I couldn't pass it up. I'm telling ya'll, she's amazing! She even suggested that adorable picture for the back. Isn't it perfect?!

 

I always like to keep the message short and sweet, but still fun. Holly has some of the best quotes and fonts, and when I saw this one, it fit the picture to a T. She even carried the design over onto the envelopes, and used the same scalloped shape for our return address.

 

I couldn't be happier with the finished result, and as I always say... I don't know how we'll top these next year! Of course, I also have to thank Jenae with A Perfect Pixel Photography for our fabulous family pics! The cards would not have been the same without them!    And, a big thank you to everyone who sent us a Christmas card this year, I love displaying them in our kitchen. Something about Christmas cards just gets me in the holiday spirit! I anxiously rush to the mailbox in anticipation during the month of December! So fun!
And now, here's a look at the 2015 Slater Christmas card...  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a look at some of our past cards:

  

2014 Christmas Card

 

 

2013 Christmas Card

 

 

2012 Christmas Card

  

 

 

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Star Spangled Kids Link-Up

 

It's been quite a while since I've participated in a link up... I know, I know, it's been quite a while since I blogged in general. But you guys know me and how much I love a good holiday. Any excuse to dress my kiddos up in matching outfits and celebrate gets me going! So, today, I'm linking up with Liz, Vanessa, Sara, Erin, Kristy and Natalie for this fun July 4th Star Spangled Kids Link Up to show off my little firecrackers!

 

 

 

This was last year for July 4th, when Crew was only 2 months old, which obviously didn't stop me from coordinating our outfits.

 

 

 

July 4th, 2015. Someone didn't want to sit and smile. :-)

 

 

 

I even gave T a patriotic mani/pedi, which she loved. Is anyone else obsessed with Jamberry these days?

 

 

 

No July 4th weekend is complete without a trip to the water park for some fun in the sand and sun!

 

 

 

I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing long weekend with friends, family, and lot's of red, white, and blue!

 

 

 

 

 

Tinley's Carousel Birthday

Welllll hello there blog land! Long time, no see! I sure have missed this sweet little place, but I have sooooo been enjoying life. I hope you all have been as well!

 

This is something I've been meaning to share for months, and I finally found some spare time to get it posted. So, without further ado, here's how we celebrated sweet Tinley's 3rd Birthday back in January!

 

 

I found T's invites on Etsy, and they were even more beautiful in person! I was so impressed with the seller, I ended up getting matching cupcake toppers and cupcake wraps from her as well.

 

We rented out the banquet room at the Merry-Go-Round Museum, which is in our very own downtown. I don't know how we had never been there prior to this, considering T's absolute favorite ride is the carousel. It made the perfect theme, and the mint/blush/gold color scheme was gorgeous. There were all kinds of fun things for the kids to do, and the staff was great.

 

 It turned out to be a wonderful sunny day, which is rare in Ohio in the winter- much different from last year on her birthday, when a blizzard almost ruined our party! I was so glad it ended up being a nice day, and all of our friends and family were able to come and help celebrate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Wendy Kromer for the delicious cake pops that were too pretty to eat, and the fabulous carousel cookies!

 

Creative Cuisine's food was amazing, as always!

 

 

My beautiful 3 year old!

 

Sweet friends and their boys

 

Every one had some fun on the carousel, even daddy!

 

 

Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate our baby girl's 3rd Birthday. It was the most perfect day, and T is STILL talking about it. (and asking to go back!)