Written by Candace on December 24, 2013 | 7 Comments

Christmas in New York City

Well, it’s good to be back here in this lovely little space on the internet.

December seemed to hit quickly this year with the later than normal arrival of Thanksgiving. I told myself to do all that I could to enjoy every moment of this very special time of the year. As you can see, that involved me having to put blogging off to the side.

This Christmas is even more special because I’ll be turning 30, just like Vitaliy did in August. And in true Vitaliy style, he surprised me and made one of my dreams come true – to experience Christmas in New York City. It was an epic celebration for an epic birthday.

To the love of my life, I’m so thankful that you aren’t afraid of taking risks or showing off your romantic side. You never cease to amaze me and inspire me with your love. Thank you for making this such an unforgettable birthday. I love you today and for always. xo

Here is a look at Christmas in NYC. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Even with the bitter cold temperatures it was truly magical.

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Written by Candace on November 28, 2013 | 5 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving

Vitaliy and I have so many things to be thankful for today. I thought I’d share a few on the blog today since you’re one of them.

We are thankful for…

FRIENDS AND FAMILY. We are surrounded by so many people who love us both near and far. We are thankful for every Skype, Face Time, or email. We’re thankful for every home cooked meal. Every invitation. For the referrals to Pictilio. For the many laughs. And most of all, for the prayers.

CLIENTS. We have the best clients! We’re thankful for the sweet emails. The surprise gifts, like our Giants bobble head. All the fun double dates. The incredible reviews. For a momentous 2013 wedding season. For so many beautiful memories. Most of all, we’re thankful for your trust.

OUR READERS. We are thankful for every “like” and for every comment. Especially the first one from this post that I’ve never forgotten. I’m thankful for every outspoken reader and for the quiet ones that I don’t even know visit. I’m thankful for those who have shared our blog with others. You only have so many minutes in your day, and we’re thankful you choose to spend a few here with us.

THE COUPLES. We’re thankful for all the couples out there joining us in making marriage happen. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for loving and forgiving. Thank you for continuing to invest in your relationship. Thank you for building a stronger and stronger foundation for the future of your family. We are thankful for you! Because we can’t do this alone.

We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving! Eat an extra slice of pie for me.

xo Candace.

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Written by Candace on November 27, 2013 | 4 Comments

2013 Christmas Advent Calendar

Christmas is such a special time of the year, but it can easily become one of the most stressful times of the year too.

I want to get lost in the season, but it’s so easy to forget the reason: Jesus. Vitaliy and I have made a few crucial decisions this year in order to best enjoy this special time.

1. We worked our butts off to deliver all 2013 weddings before Thanksgiving. Woohoo!

2. We said no to any family portraits past November 1 so that our workload stayed manageable. Saying no to potential income is always scary so it was really a test of faith.

3. We decided against taking a self-portrait for our Christmas cards this year. You can see 2011’s picture at the top of this previous post.

4. We decided not to take a picture because we’re not going to send out Christmas cards this year. I’m still mourning this decision, but you can enjoy 2012’s Christmas card.

One of the things we’ve always wanted to do was create an Advent Calendar for ourselves. Thanks to Kate from Style Smaller, we now have a simple and achievable way to make it happen. We hope to use this calendar for two things. 1. To enjoy the simple pleasures and traditions of the Christmas season. 2. To reflect on the importance and significance of the birth of Jesus.

Here are few ideas we’ve come up with so far.

1. Begin John Piper’s daily reflection of the Christmas story.

2. Schedule and invite friends for a National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie night.

3. Make homemade Christmas cards together and send them to our Compassion sponsored children.

4. Drop everything and do something spontaneous together.

5. Begin creating a 2013 family photo album.

6. Go caroling with our community group.

We’re going to spend this weekend designing and planning the rest of our advent calendar before December starts on Sunday. Have any suggestions for us? I’d love any ideas you want to share in the comments section. And if you don’t have access to mini boxes like these from Paper Source, you can also use envelopes like we did for this valentine’s advent calendar.

All styling by the lovely Kate from Style Smaller for Pictilio. Thank you! She also recommends filling a few boxes with sweet treats like cookies or Hershey kisses.

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