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Through Heather's Looking Glass

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All About Christmas

December 10, 2015 | family, holidays

Happy Thursday friends! I thought I would break things up with some fun Christmas facts about me and my family, as well as some of our traditions. I would love to hear you answer some of these!

1.) Real of fake tree? We have a fake tree, and I always had a fake one growing up due to owning cats + having allergies to lots of things. Plus, our last fake tree lasted I want to say 6 or 7 years so it ended up being way cheaper than buying real every year.

IMG_9434 (2)

2.) Christmas morning breakfast? It depends. for a few years I made a special danish thing, but last year I didn’t since I had a three month old, so not sure what will happen this year! Sometimes we just eat leftovers from Christmas eve. Smile

3.) Favorite Christmas Album? Definitely the Carpenters. I grew up listening to it over and over so it just means Christmas to me to hear it!

4.) Where do you spend Christmas? We spend it with my side of the family. Bobby’s family all gets together at Thanksgiving but not really at Christmas so it just makes more sense. We spend Christmas eve with my parents, and on Christmas day we all go to my cousin’s house (everyone used to come to my parent’s house.) n61700476_30279142_1481

5.) Favorite Christmas movie: This one is tough! The Santa Clause, Elf, and Christmas with the Kranks are all up there. OH! and Home Alone. Gah this is too hard!

6.) What’s on your wish list: A new lens for my camera.

7.) Any traditions? I usually make snicker cookies on Christmas eve, and we always read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas as well as the Christmas story from the Bible.

photo (32)

8.) Stockings, yes or no? My parents always have a stocking for us, but last year and this year Bobby and I aren’t doing stockings because we would rather use that money to travel than on trinkets we don’t really need.

9.) Do you put up outside lights? Yes! It makes me sad that it seems less and less people do this. Growing up we would drive around on Christmas eve and look at the lights. Now we are hard pressed to find hardly any in our neighborhood.

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10.) Do you open presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Growing up we opened presents from my grandparents on Christmas eve, and then gifts from my parents and Santa Christmas morning. My parents also used to let us open one gift from them on Christmas eve. Now we just do everything Christmas morning.

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I can’t wait to see how our traditions evolve as Emma Kate gets old enough to understand Christmas!

QOTD: Answer one of the above questions in a comment!

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  1. Erin says

    December 10, 2015 at 4:54 am

    I was noticing that not many people decorate outside for Christmas anymore also.

    So sad because at Halloween the whole neighborhood was decorated!

  2. Brittany says

    December 10, 2015 at 6:49 am

    I am all about the fake tree and I love your gate idea. I need that for my 1 year old!

  3. Cassi says

    December 10, 2015 at 7:30 am

    I’ve always had a fake tree because we didn’t want to deal with the mess of a live one.

  4. Lesley says

    December 10, 2015 at 7:48 am

    Some of my neighbors in my apartment complex have decorated their balconies, both for Halloween and Christmas. It’s fun if I’m coming home at night and i see the lights on.

  5. Karen says

    December 10, 2015 at 7:59 am

    The Carpenters – yes! One of my favorites, too!! 🙂 We also open presents on Christmas morning…I feel as if it helps Christmas stretch out a bit rather than opening them all on Christmas Eve! 🙂

  6. Sarah Kay Hoffman says

    December 10, 2015 at 8:16 am

    What a fun post! Love your house:)

    • Heather says

      December 14, 2015 at 8:33 am

      Thanks!

  7. Kristen says

    December 10, 2015 at 11:44 am

    Your house looks beautiful! Here in Anchorage people don’t like putting up Christmas lights, so it’s hard to find good ones. When I lived in Philly people were out of control with the Christmas lights and I loved driving around to look at them all!

    • Heather says

      December 14, 2015 at 8:33 am

      Thanks! That pic is actually of the house we lived in before this one, but it looked beautiful in Christmas lights!

  8. Sylvia @ Frolic Through Life says

    December 10, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    Christmas becomes so much more special when you have kids to share it with. My son is almost 6 and I love all of the traditions that we are creating for him. I love outdoor Christmas lights too! There are neighborhoods near us that go all out with lights and even have tours that you can go on. We go every year and my son loves it!

    • Heather says

      December 14, 2015 at 8:29 am

      So fun! I can’t wait until next year when EK understands a little bit more!

  9. Ashley says

    December 10, 2015 at 10:12 pm

    I grew up having a real tree. There was never any questions about it in our house even though my dad would try to be the grinch and say we were getting a fake one. Tradition was always to get it the weekend after my birthday (dec 12th.) This year my husband and I bucked tradition because the weather has been so nice. It probably won’t get decorated till then because we’ve had a busy week. We love putting lights up outside and this is the first christmas in our house so we were super excited to do so.

    • Heather says

      December 14, 2015 at 8:27 am

      I remember decorating our first year, it was so fun finding a spot for everything!

  10. Monique says

    December 12, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    Christmas morning breakfast…now that my kids are beyond the Santa thing, I make a crockpot breakfast casserole that cooks overnight. Then I can eat while said children sleep the day away 🙂

    • Heather says

      December 14, 2015 at 8:26 am

      Good idea!

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I am Heather Montgomery, a 30 something southern girl living in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband Bobby, 10-year-old daughter Emma Kate, and our goldendoodles Dolly and Luna. I’m just a regular girl who likes to workout, travel, hang with my family, text, and eat chips and queso. Be sure to check out my “about me” page for more info!
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A huge thank you to @disneystyle for gifting me an A huge thank you to @disneystyle for gifting me and Emma Kate this fun box of goodies to get in a Halloween spooky vibe !! 🎃 ✨

I love that Disney sells such a wide array of holiday merchandise, for all holidays. There truly is something for everyone in your family or on your shopping list! I listed all the brands in partnership with Disney in our box below. Which is your favorite? 

@oldnavy 
@bathandbodyworks 
@loungefly 
@wetnwildbeauty 
@zakdesigns 
@makeuperaser 
@disneybooks 

#disneystyle
I’m not suggesting you go into debt to go on vac I’m not suggesting you go into debt to go on vacation. But I am suggesting you remember that time is something you can’t get back, and memories are something that will stay with you longer than things. 🚢 

As we enter the holiday season, maybe it’s time to consider that long overdue vacation instead of quite so many things under the tree? Maybe a few less items for some time away to rest and recharge with loved ones?

@disneycruiseline is great for just that because they truly have something for everyone, from babies, kids, to adults. The cruise we just went on included beach time, pool time, an obstacle course, lots of eating, basketball, foosball, ping-pong, movie, watching, scavenger hunt finding, pirates (the nice kind!), ice cream, and so much more. ✨🫶🏻 

Always happy to answer questions about the most magical cruise line around! 

#disneycruise #disneycruiseline #disneywish #disneyvacation
🚢 A vacation should actually feel like a vacati 🚢 A vacation should actually feel like a vacation right? I hear too many people coming home from vacations with their kids that say they are exhausted and now need another vacation from their vacation. 

This is why I love @disneycruiseline. 💖

They have kids clubs included in the price of your cruise fare* that are open for a lot of the day and late into the night. This allows for adults only time at the adults only pool, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Not to mention, the kids absolutely have a blast. Mine never wanted to leave! 🫶🏻

it’s a win-win situation in my book. They get to go have some fun with other kids, and I get to relax and recharge on my vacation, and then we can also spend quality family time together as well! ✨

Send this to someone you are trying to convince to go on a DCL cruise with you! 😏

*included in cruise fare for kids clubs, not the nursery which is an extra charge. 

#disneycruise #disneycruiseline #disneywish #disneycruisekids #disneycruisevacation #cruisevacation
We absolutely love Orange Beach, it’s one of our We absolutely love Orange Beach, it’s one of our favorite places to visit and feels like home. 🫶🏻

There are so many great businesses with employees that make you feel like family. Here are a few we visited over fall break. Be sure to save this for your next visit to the beach! Have you been to any of these places? 🍊 

@coastalorangebeach: Not only a beautiful restaurant right on the gulf with amazing food, drinks, and servers, but also a really great store with amazing merch! We found some great stuff. If you go to the restaurant, ask for J-Mac to be your server and make sure to get a bushwhacker with a peanut butter floater! 😋 

@florabama_olerivergrill : Right on the bama/Florida line, this fun restaurant boasts beautiful sunsets, a fun cocktail menu (the key lime colada was amazing!) and you can even rent pontoon boats and jet skis from the marina, or take a dolphin cruise! 🐬 

@theorangebeachstore : I’ve passed this store 100 times but this was my first time inside and now I’m mad that I have been missing out all this time. They have a beautiful selection of really nice souvenirs from great brand names you already know and love. Great quality clothing and other things like blankets, cup, hats, and candles. I shopped forever! 

@fbyachtclub_ : The Flora Bama Yacht club is also right on the state line on the bay side and has fun live music, a really nice menu including crab claws, hummus, chicken pasta, and key lime pie. Service was great and we loved the live music. 

Thank y’all for having us! ✨
#florabama #coastalal #orangebeach #orangebeachalabama #orangebeachrestaurants #orangebeachdining #albeachblogger
But why are they like this? I even tell him “I d But why are they like this? I even tell him “I don’t want a Bobby-sized bite” and it’s still fit for a polar bear. 🍰 

#loveandmarriage #husbandsandwives #menbelike #orangebeachalabama #coastalal #marriedlifebelike
Big batch, big flavor, zero stress! 😍 #sponsore Big batch, big flavor, zero stress! 😍 #sponsored 

I picked up the NEW Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage at @Foodlion and added it to my favorite red beans and rice — lean, smoky, and less sodium! 🍽️ 

The best part? This recipe makes plenty of leftovers, so no cooking tomorrow 🙌. 
Quick, easy, and totally elevated — your weeknight dinners just got a major upgrade! 

Comment “BUTTERBALL” to receive a link to shop these products at your local Food Lion. *Check your message request folder if you don’t follow my account in order to receive the link.

Bobby’s Red Beans and Rice: 

INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 - 1 cup celery, about 3-4 ribs
• 1 Sweet Onion
• 1 Green Bell Pepper
• 2-4 cloves Garlic
• Seasoning, Tony’s, chili powder, pepper, bay leaf
• 1 tsp paprika
• 45 oz kidney beans
• 28 oz beef sausage, 2 packs
• 2 packs of Butterball Smoked Turkey Sausage
• 2 cup Beef broth
• Buttered Rice

PREPARATION STEPS
1. Chop/mince veggies (suggest food processor)

2. Warm butter on medium heat in pot then add veggies (about 10 minutes)

3. Add beans (slightly drain) and sausage (about 7 minutes)

4. Add garlic and seasoning and simmer about 10 minutes. 

5.) Serve over warm buttered rice

 #Butterball #SmokedTurkeySausage #FoodLionFinds #RedBeansAndRice #WeeknightDinner #EasyRecipes #MealPrepWin #FlavorfulAndHealthy @butterballturkey
Holiday shopping days with my mini me are some of Holiday shopping days with my mini me are some of my favorite traditions. ✨☕ 
From grabbing coffee to wandering through the decorated stores, there’s just something magical about this season. We laughed, made memories, and even managed to cross a few names off our list. 🎄 (ad) 

One of our favorite stops was Reeds at West Town Mall, where I spotted the new Victorinox Air Pro — a watch that’s Swiss-made with incredible craftsmanship, a stainless steel case, shock + water resistance, and even the ability to track 3 time zones at once. 🙌 It’s modern, timeless, and such a meaningful find for the men in my life.

The best part? Ending the day with full shopping bags, full hearts, and a gift I know will be worn and treasured for years. 💫 @victorinoxnorthamerica 

#HolidayShopping #Victorinox #AirProWatch #MyVictorinox

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