Monday, August 12, 2013

Monday | Christmas in July

And the award for "Worst Blogger of the Summer" goes to....me! Cue the boos and raspberries.

It's true, though and you know it. It's been painfully quiet here on the blog but since my blog centers around my life, not my life around the blog, that's just the way it's been this summer. I'm still here, I still read your blogs, I even leave a comment or two, but posts have obviously not been a number one priority to me lately. But since I've never wanted this blog to run my life, feel like a job with deadlines or anything else other than a fun hobby to motivate me to actually practice photography and also to chillax with you amazing people, I guess it's okay.
 
So, I do have exciting news but that news is for another post. For now, here's just some slightly random, slightly purposeful photos of how I spent my Saturday. Remember how my family does Christmas in July? Yes, I know, we're just so cool like that. This year was our 3rd Annual Christmas in July celebration, complete with highly un-holiday-ish hamburgers with our gift exchange following the meal. And yes, we did Christmas in July in August, gotta be flexible with everyone's busy schedules, right?

The last two years we did desserts as our exchange theme, but we decided that this year we wanted something a little less overkill on the sugar, so Stuart came up with the idea of snack mixes. Each person secretly picks out a recipe, lets the Facilitator (me the last two years, Katheryn this year) know their ingredients, the Facilitator buys it and then we each make our delights in "secret." Or a secret as you can get in a two bedroom house with 7.5 people living there (I just counted myself as a .5, since even though I don't live there, my spirit still hovers over like a protective and slightly obsessive guardian angel).

And then...we do a white elephant style gift exchange of our carefully guarded and painstakingly wrapped items. This year mom got my snack mix and I got Scott's delicious concoction of cheesy ranch snack mix. Yumby.

Me waving "hi!"
 The ingredients to my snack mix of delight.
Can't be in the kitchen without some tunes to inspire motivation!


Sweet tea is my right hand man.

 
Walah! Now there's a snack mix of another color! Chex cereal, pretzels, Reeses puffs, peanuts and m&m's liberally coated with white chocolate. Yes, I'm sure it qualifies as a snack mix. :)

Stay tuned for a post with my exciting (at least for me!) announcement. :)

26 comments:

  1. Oooh how fun! And yummy! What a neat family tradition!
    Love the "selfie" & can't wait to hear abt your announcement!
    Love ya!

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    1. It was fun AND yummy! What better combo could a girl want? :D

      Patience, love, it'll come soon! :D

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  2. Yippee! Cannot wait for that announcement, Kellie. Bet it's a good one. ;)

    *am already excited for you*

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  3. I have felt like the worst blogger of the summer too! (0:
    yay! for ladies like us! That snack mix looks so so good!

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    1. Lacy, that snack mix is AMAZING!! So quick, so easy, so tasty!

      I'm glad I'm not the only one who's blogs have been pretty quiet this summer! :)

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  4. Christmas in July/August sounds like some super family fun! :)
    I too have an unhealthy sweet tea obsession! (I do live in SOUTH Dakota ;)

    I've missed you and your posts Kellie but I totally know what it means to have your blog become a job instead of a hobby! Can't wait for your announcerment!

    I am so craving snack mixes now...

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    1. Haha...SOUTH Dakota definitely counts. ;)

      Ah, it makes me feel so special to know that I've been missed! Hopefully before too long the blogging bug will fly by and bite me again. ;)

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  5. I've actually noticed that a lot of blogs I follow (as well as my own) have been quieter this summer. Significantly quieter. I know, everyone's competing for the "Worst Blogger of the Summer" award!

    And I love that you had your family "Christmas in July" in August. :)

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    1. It must be a blog-block epidemic! :)

      I love our family traditions! I really believe that traditions are some of the biggest things in unifying and solidifying family relationships that will last a lifetime. :)

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  6. Send me some in box....I really want to munch on that right now.

    Sounds like fun! I have been bad at blogging too.... #sigh

    Iris♥

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    1. Iris, that snack mix is SO easy to make, it hardly falls under any category of baking..."mixing" is just about it. :)

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  7. 1- I LOVE Christmas so naturally Christmas in July is the most amazing thing ever... can I come to your party next year pretty please?! 2- Yum! Yours looks seriously delicious. I am craving some snack mix AND sweet tea now.

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    1. Angela, Christmas in July is one of the BEST things my family has ever done! It's so much fun to listen to Christmas music, pull out a few decorations (having a pine tree in our back yard is so helpful, since we have insta-greenery all year long!) and have a little gift exchange. We all look forward to it!

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  8. What a fun tradition, Kellie! Aaaand now I want a sample of everything. Can I get a screen-transmitted taste please?

    Um, so I started Primeval a few days ago, and since you were the one to convince me that it was worth my time, I thought that I'd let you know that I'm loving so far. So, so good. Thank you! :D

    I'm looking forward to your mysterious announcement... try not to keep us waiting too long, m'kay? :D

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    1. YAY!! I'm so happy to hear that you're liking Primeval! I don't know what it was about that show but I was SO hooked on it! Like...I was watching it straight through the day and night, taking a break for a few quick hours of sleep and church! Not even joking. :) Connor is my favorite. His style is...well, totally lacking in season 1 but it drastically improves (as well as his maturity level!) in the following seasons. :)Keep me posted on how you're liking it!! :D

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  9. That is such a fun tradition! I love hearing about family traditions and this is truly one of my faves now. I also love how you don't just do normal "gifts" you do food gifts as well--that's something that this girl over here would love! Can I just join your family? :)

    And I can't wait to hear about your exciting news!!!

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    1. You said it, Kiki! If I ever have my own family, I will definitely be celebrating Christmas in July with them as a continued family tradition!

      And girl, you can join my family any day you like. :)

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  10. Yummm! That snack mix looks delish! I love the 'Christmas in July' idea that you do. Such a fun family tradition.

    And I think the worst blogger of the year award would have to go to me. I have been so busy this summer that my poor little blog has completely gone by the wayside.
    I have been keeping up reading on yours, normally in quick moments here and there. But I haven't taken the time to comment here like I should have. So I am back, and trying to do better!

    And a surprise??? Kellie! How can you leave us hanging like this???? :) Can't wait to here your exciting announcement.

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    1. Haha, I wish that I could give out free samples of my snack mix through my computer screen! How cool would that be. :)

      Since summertime is outdoors time, I think it's totally okay to let the blogs go to see just a wee bit. Winter will be here soon enough and that's when blogging comes in handy the most! :)

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  11. 'allo, love! You and me both, girl...my blogging has STUNK. Gah. :D The mix looks amazing.


    And WOOOT...I can't wait to hear the announcement!!!

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  12. You are so purdy! And the way you used natural light in these pictures is pretty much amazing :) Oh, and yay for fun family/sibling traditions (that involve yummy foods!)

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Oooh, you're about to comment! How exciting! Know that you are SO MUCH MORE than just a name and a comment to me - you're a person I'd like to get to know! Make sure you check back, as I reply to each comment. I love getting to talk/correspond with each of you!