our time in atlanta was filled with eating, games, black friday shopping, Xbox, football, online shopping & wine.
my niece morgan.
she let talby and annie play with all of her american girl dolls….they were in heaven.
the name game.
everyone writes a name (or in our case a word or funny sounding name) and you go around the room
trying to guess who wrote what name.
it's fun.
the kids think it's pretty funny to hear their crazy name said over and over.
we also played apples to apples.
very fun.
maybe because i won.
i had the advantage of knowing the kind of things my kids would pick better than the other grown ups….
but i still won. :)
my nephew Hunter gave me five minutes to take some senior pictures of him.
seriously….five minutes.
i cannot believe he is a senior.
and after two full days we packed up and left for home.
our trunk was full of christmas gifts and two bags of hand-me-down clothes (yay!!)
our first stop on the way home was still in atlanta.
Cameli's Gourmet Pizza Joint. (they are on facebook too….)
we have wanted to come here for years!
we know the owners.
the pizza was so good.
i loved it.
craig loved it.
my kids tried calzones and fell in love.
these are the Cameli women.
their husbands are the Pizza chefs…and i got no photo of them…i am a dork.
this picture is weird.
these are my sister's college roommates….my sister should be where i am and i should be taking the picture.
but i love these girls too.
i grew up with amy (blond) and her family.
and i LOVED hanging with sara (brunette) when i would go visit my sister in college.
i wish you could have been there lorel.
thank you for sharing your friends with me.
enzo is sean's new buddy.
they exchanged addresses on napkins.
i think they are a great match….just from the half hour that i watched them together.
there was a jute box with any song imaginable and the kids played "CRAZY FROG!"
oh my goodness.
thank you thank you thank you cameli's pizza joint!
back on the road.
old school arby's….
we found a Days Inn to crash for the night after 8 hours of driving.
we used the pull out sofa bed AND made a "special bed" on the floor for annie AND both queen beds.
they swam for 30 minutes and then we slept like babies.
in the elevator to the car.
could be the best invention ever….GENIUS….i love redbox so very much.
feet touching my head…all the time.
and more feet.
i think i have mentioned before that i get car sick?
like ALL the time.
i have my entire life….so many memories of being nauseous in cars…and throwing up.
yuck.
dramamene helps.
and i can sleep a little more than i used to be able to.
we made it home.
very tired.
craig drove the entire 30+ hours.
rockstar.
i am glad the traveling is over with for awhile.
but honestly driving is way WAY better than dragging five kids through an airport on a holiday.
and we are glad we went.
the end.
samantha - Hi! I just found your blog today and have pinned your picture of the frame with words/flashcards onto one of my Pinterest boards. Such a great idea – I love it! I hope that’s OK with you?
Sam
Geoffrey - Hi guys I believe this is a great post I will deetenifly keep up reading your works, congratulations. It is crucial to have quality contents on the web, we can rely on them like a reliable source for our projects.Ive see clearly with enjoyment and I know Im gonna study the rest of the stuff you may write, great job guy!.
Deniki - That is awsome that you guys have arleady had your first snow! My kids have been praying for snow, but still nothing yet. Not a big suprise here in Texas tho.Send some our way π
Rorsidioday - ΠΡΡ, Π° ΠΎΠ±ΡΡΡΠ½ΠΈΡΠ΅, ΠΏΠΎΠΆΠ°Π»ΡΠΉΡΡΠ°, Π° ΡΠΎ Ρ ΡΡΠΎ ΡΠΎ Π½Π΅ ΡΠΎΠ²ΡΠ΅ΠΌ Π² ΡΠ΅ΠΌΡ Π²ΡΠ΅Ρ Π°Π», ΡΡΠΎ ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ?
Betsy Cain - You have such a knack for design. Just to add to all the gushing of compliments, your home could be featured in a magazine (has it been already?!?) Can’t wait to see your (complete) dining room! Love your style and creativity and photography. Love your writing style too. So inspiring and cheerful and stunning!
amy jupin - did i comment on this post already? i can’t remember!
but i just have to say that i am LOVING all your decorations.
so simple and colorful and happy!
Cherish Stockdale - Oh my your house looks soo good! I love all of it. really! ALL OF IT!
Kelly - I have been saving this eye candy post to read when I had a quiet moment. LOVE it! So happy to see your globes sitting up there and one can never, ever have enough glass ball ornaments, huh? I have some more squirreled away that I want to get out. Little by little. I still have ten days to decorate, right? π I like your stockings all different yet unified and the little initial tags. Have a lovely day and I am so, so sorry about your interruption last night! π Kelly
Melissa - Your photography is amazing and your house has to be the happiest place on earth. I would love to pull a stool up to your island and chat and eat cake together.
Thanks for the amazing pictures!
Katie - Love Love Love the sparkle! I am loving silver more and more…getting it at the goodwill! Is that crazy? Thanks for the awesome inspiration.
Sara - Looks awesome!!! I love the dining room corner photo!!!!!! Actually I LOVE everything!!!!!! Sara
Ali Richardson - I am IN LOVE with all of your decorations. Actually, IN LOVE with your decorating style in general. Those ornaments in that gumball machine made my day. Just awesome!!! I’m thinking I need to start collecting Santa mugs! Happy holidays :O)
Christina - Gor. Geous.
Also? So Fun!
Those lampshades are amazing, and I LOVE the map on your wall!!!
Beth - So. Disappointed. I was so excited to see CRAFT DAY!!! I was looking through your pretty pictures (which, by the way, are very pretty and very festive, but not what I was looking for π and my mind was going . . . “CRAFT DAY, CRAFT DAY, WHERE IS CRAFT DAY!?!?!?!” Well, you can tell I’m looking forward to it. Maybe because I am living what seems like a 24 hour craft day at school right now (ok, I’m exaggerating a bit). And I’m loving it, most of the time, but it’s been intense. Very intense! I’m so looking forward to the fun you are having with yours!
Kristin S - All your color is so inspiring. My former home had color overload so my new one feels SO blah as I tried to “grow up”. Soon to add back in more color as I’m going batty with blah.
Morgan - I am absolutely GAH GAH for this (especially that top photo, Meg!)
xoxo
Lindsey Jo - gah, i love your style.
CarrieBeth - i adore posts like this with all the pictures. they’re just so satisfying π
Rhonda Roo - LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE.
EVERY SINGLE PHOTO>AWESOMENESS.
Forgive my yelling, i am a little ecstatic. π
You’re billiant and i couldn’t be forced to pick a favorite vignette even if jack frost was threatening to nip my nose.
BRILLIANT i say. End of story.
π
Melanie - I absolutely love those lampshades. Delish!
katie w - so pretty. i love those santa mugs.
Valerie@Chateaualamode.typepad.com - Meg, you have the most amazingly fun, pretty, sparkly house! Love it!
Julie - Christmas is just happiness over at your house. Vintage funky fabulousness.
chavala - I LOVE your red damask lamp shades. Where did you find them?
Erin McCall - Those pictures were breathtaking! Why, oh why can’t I take pics like that!!!? Because you are brillant!
Rach - Very festive. Thanks for the inspiration!
the whyte house - this made me laugh…i was looking for christmas posts from blogs that i follow to make a collection of links on my blog today. this was perfect…and then i went to the archives. look at dec. 14, 2009. perfect. π as always, the house is decorated beautifully!!
Georgia - Why oh whhhyyyyy havent we seen the whole dining room yet?
I am squinting trying to make it out the in the last pic of a bauble.. haha!
Love the lamps on the side board, the Yellow is like ‘POW in ya face’
Love it! β₯
xx
Courtney Walsh - Gosh i wish we didn’t live in this rental.
sigh.
Jeannine - Your house is so inspiring!
Julie - I am loving that gumball machine. Why didn’t I think of that? And your canvas looks great in your dining room. π
elz - LOVE , love, love your decorations. Why didn’t I think of some of those tricks? Next year! Thanks for sharing your cheery home with us.
Joanna Murray - Meg you are such an inspiring, creative Mum! I have so many ideas from your blog, am thinking I will only be able to fit in one or two before Christmas this year.
Michelle - love seeing pictures of your house at Christmas. . .it’s the best.
Lane - okay….i looooove your style! i see a new career path for you…interior design! i’d hire you!
Regina - Ahhhhhh…I was *so* waiting on your Christmas photos post! Now Christmas can officially begin for me. Why can’t I have a gal like you as a next-door neighbor? π
amber - i love your house! Can you come and decorate mine?!?!
Donna - So pretty!
I made a frame with words similiar to yours, thanks for the idea!
http://donna-momof4.blogspot.com/2010/12/todays-message.html
Suzette - So inspirational!!! I love you, Meg Duerksen! (But, not in a weird way) π
Katy - Seriously, your posts make me so happy. π Thanks!
Juli - Your photos make me happy!
bobbie - I wish I had that many antique ornaments but it wouldn’t really matter since my kids are so little that I try not to put out too many breakables. Your house is decorated beautifully!
ingrid - me 3 ….thought the mugs were in the photo. house looks great! love that you have the swedish star from ikea hung in your window. it all looks so nice and inviting. i bet the kids love it.
Trina McNeilly - I love your house and I love it even more at Christmas… I want to rip my house apart and just copy yours.. hahaha.
I still adore those stockings…. next year I’m taking the plunge for some new stockings.
Hope your day is super happy!
xo
SJ - Can I move into your house? It’s so full of colors; I just love it!
Holly - Here’s the link for CariKraft: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CariKraft
I have the same Christmas words, and I love how you used them!
Tanya @ Life in 3D - I’m in love forever…with your photography, your style and your unique artistic eye! LOVE!
Lora - This post made me smile…
AshleyAnn (above post)… I did the same thing. Ha!
AshleyAnn - Want to know how smart I am? I saw the family pictures with the Santa mugs and thought “Wow they took all those mugs on their photo shoot?!” I had to stare at it before I realized they weren’t in the photo.
Yes, I am a genius.
Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - oh i love it all. your house is my favorite meg! you’ve got a gift of putting stuff together. just LOVE all that color:)
BriBedell - Love your house! I wish I had a mantle π LOL
kelly - http://www.etsy.com/shop/CariKraft?ref=seller_info
There’s a link for Cari… π Love her flashcards! π
Merry Christmas to you and yours…
Lindsay - Where are those awesome red and white lamps from?!
Amanda-ThriceBlessed - Beautiful! We love so many of the same things. I have bowls of Shiny Brites all over my house, the Santa mugs, and instead of #5s, I have #3s to represent my 3 girls.
Kim Barlow - Pretty!
Juli - I love looking at your house.
Jerusalem Greer - oh i love these pictures! so happy!
do you just have the most amazing natural light in your home or do you actually know how to really use your camera?? I think I need a lesson!
Jenny Joy - Truth be told, I’m having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year, but this is helping. Thank you!!! I heart ALL your beautiful holiday decorations! π
Katie - Your house and photos make me happy! Thanks for sharing!
Hollie - Here is the Etsy shop for the cards – I know because I saw your frame with words and was determined to copy it π
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CariKraft
Dee Stephens - Love the frame with words!
michelle - That map corner of your dining room is fantastic!!! The yellow lamps are a perfect touch!!
Ashleigh Marshall - Megan, I love your blog! So bright, cheery, and real! I follow you everyday! I am a Mom of three young children, so I very rarely have time to read your blog, let alone leave a comment! I truly appreciate your attitude about life and your willingness to keep it real! I love your Christmas decor, so very happy! Merry Christmas!
Dana D@BoysMyJoys - If you go to GA next year for Thanksgiving, please plan to stay an extra day!
I’ll come pick you up and drive you back to my house in SC and treat you to as much coffee, margaritas, and meals out that you can handle… in exchange for you showing me how to make my house sparkle for Christmas!
Everything looks so beautiful!!!
Especially love the ornaments in the gumball machine!
You are so stinkin’ creative! π
melissa*320 sycamore - goodness gracious, I love it all. Pure gorgeousness! That 5 by your family picture made my heart do a little flip flop though. I love the colors in your ornament wreath too!
Janelle - You really should be an interior designer. I swear, your house makes me want to move to Kansas and just follow you around when you shop.
Kimberlee J. - Oh tidings of comfort and joy!
The house is beautiful. π
Elizabeth Gleason - Ohhh you gave me an idea… I make little circle initials made out of porcelain. I’m putting them on our stockings right now! Yeah, I never would have thought of it.
Julie - I love all of your sparkle! We had santa cups when I was a child ~ I miss those! Can’t wait to see more of your dinning room!
Ali - Dang your house is looking good!
Brianna - If only my home looked like yours this time of year! Meg, how beautiful!!
Peggyrice@gmail.com - OHHH, I love the corner of the dining room. Great Map!!! These photos are just one of the reasons I love the USA! Merry Christmas!
Jill - Hi! LOVE your photos! And it is fun to see my pal Cari’s words. Her blog is http://www.carikraft.typepad.com/
You have inspired me to update my own blog…. golly, sometimes I just can’t get it all done!!!
Have a wonderful day!
Leah - Love, love, LOVE the photos! And you’ve inspired me! I have an unopened box of Crate and Barrel 12 days of Christmas ornaments that I want to display, but I don’t have a tree. I was obsessing over finding a basket for them. Then I saw your glass vases! Perfect for the ornaments. It’s nearly midnight and I’m going to do it right now. Thank you!!
Jack - Meg, your house looks fantastic! I always get such good ideas from your blog – thanks for the inspiration.
elma riedstra - Love love your mantel!! I found some old big retro christmas tree bulbs and put them in a jar:) Did you put ornaments in your bubble gum machine?? Love the santa mugs to. Your home is so cozy!! Thanks for sharing oh I also loved your ornament wreath you made to. I have so many ornaments but don’t know how to make a wreath!!