2015

This past month has been a so strange, and for the most part I’ve felt a bit lost and confused.

I think this is what they call grieving.

Experiencing the euphorhia that comes with discovering a pregnancy, followed by the heartbreak of losing that child a few weeks later is draining to say the least. I’ve withdrawn from life and have been avoiding people and places, but with a new year on the horizon I have a new sense of hope and wonder.

Bad things happened, but 2015 was not a bad year. I watched my health improve and then decline. I started a business. I restarted my blog. I fell in love with Star Wars. I decided that Florida is a lovely place to be, especially Tampa. And so is Asheville. I made new friendships and tried to mend broken relationships. We traveled. I changed my hair color.  I made mistakes. I went back to the bayou. I spent my days with my precious children. I drove my husband crazy. I trusted in Him.

And I learned a lot.

I learned that it’s possible to make A’s in grad school if I stay disciplined and focused.

I learned that there truly is magic at Magic Kingdom.

I learned that it’s okay to write and draw and paint in my Bible.

I learned that potty training is the devil ridiculously frustrating.

I learned that forever friends do exist, even if you only see them once every few years.

I learned that it’s okay to press pause on one dream while pursuing another.

I learned that I can’t do everything.

I learned that what doesn’t kill you does make you stronger.

I learned that God will never leave me.

I learned that letting go doesn’t mean forgetting, but allows for healing.

While this is only a snapshot of my 2015, a lot can happen in one year. It is exciting to think that 2016 will be here tomorrow and a new chapter begins.

My wish for 2016 is to…

*Grow in my walk with God, truly falling more in love with my Jesus

*Be a better wife to my husband and mother to my children

*Make my health a priority

*Start volunteering again

*Take nothing for granted

I am thankful for all 2015 has been, but I believe that the best is yet to come (and babe, won’t it be fine?).

Hayden

It’s been a week since the loss of sweet #3 was confirmed, and while this week has been the hardest of my life I am finally feeling the calming peace that can only be provided by the Lord. I’d like to say that I’ve handled this whole thing with grace, but that would be a complete lie. The first few days after learning this news were very dark…my whole body ached and the only thing I managed to do was cry.

So many questions swarmed my mind…

Why did this happen? Was it my fault? How could we try all year for this baby only for him/her to be taken away so soon? What was the point of this?!?! 

I switched from sadness to anger often, and then something pretty amazing happened.

On Thursday (12/10) I pulled out a few blank canvases that I’d been saving for a rainy day. Arabella was sick with a virus that she caught from Gav over the weekend and slept all morning, while Gavin and I made hand and footprint art. I had just recently seen the most beautiful quote about miscarriage, and felt a sense of urgency to paint these words so that I could read them each and every day.

With each word, I felt myself start to heal.

Over and over, the thought of our child…that little beautiful face opening it’s eyes…only to see the face of Jesus.

What a breathtaking sight.

And it’s in this very distinct moment in my grieving process that I accepted the loss, and saw the beauty in this pain.

Another incredibly important decision that has helped me to start healing was naming this child. After a sweet friend of mine suggested that we choose a gender neutral name, we decided to do exactly that.

So, we will forever remember this child as Hayden Christmas.

Because this baby is not an it.

Or a number.

Or just a clump of cells.

This baby is a life.

It pains me to think that I won’t see Hayden until my time here on earth is over, but I am also incredibly thankful that I will meet him/her one day.

The grieving and healing process is unpredictable, and I’m still riding a hormonal rollercoaster. But I remain hopeful, and if I’ve learned anything recently it’s that hope is a dangerous, beautiful, and powerful thing.

Heartbroken

The news I’ve feared came true on Monday.

My doctor called an hour before my appointment to let me know that my hCG numbers had dropped from 55 to 28 in two days time, and that this was unfortunately a miscarriage. All the bleeding I had Friday, along with the “large clot” I passed was more than likely the baby.

I am completely broken.

This baby was only 6-weeks-old, but had completely stolen my heart. From the moment I saw those two pink lines and “Pregnant” on the digital test, I was in love.

But then again, that is a lie.

I’ve loved this child since the moment Keith and I decided to try for #3. All year, each month when my period was due, I would get anxious. Praying and hoping that this was the month it would happen. November finally gave us that, and while we only had two weeks of happiness celebrating the life of this child, I do not regret sharing our pregnancy with the world. This life was something to celebrate, and the outpouring of love and support from friends and family has been so touching.

But I was not prepared for this.

I don’t know how to act.

I am sad.

I’m heartbroken.

Sometimes it feels like I can’t breathe.

I feel guilty.

I’m angry.

I am a mess.

And I just want to skip Christmas because celebrating such a beautiful season while experiencing such intense heartbreak doesn’t feel right.

But that’s impossible.

The birth of Jesus is worth celebrating no matter what earthly heartbreak is occurring.

I think that the hardest part of all of this is the not knowing…not knowing the baby’s gender, not having a name picked out, not knowing who this child would have been… I have complete faith that I will see sweet #3 again one day, and that he/she is spending time with Jesus, my Me-Maw and Pe-Paw, my Poupee’, and all of my other relatives that are in heaven.

But it still hurts. Perhaps the saddest thing I’ve ever done was re-write name tags for presents, because I’d already written “From: Keith, Linds, Gav, Bella,  & #3”. This baby was real and wanted and an answered prayer, and I am so sad.

Please pray for healing and peace.

Waiting For Answers

The Christmas season has always been my favorite time of year.

The birth of Jesus, lights and decorations, the gift-giving, family and friends…I’ve loved all of it forever, and it’s only fitting that I married a man that changed my last name to Christmas.

But…this is why I am so completely blindsided by what has been happening over the past 5 days. The joy of the season with the most intense heartbreak I’ve ever experienced is incredibly conflicting. It brings back memories of June 28th & 29th of 2013, when my daughter was born one day and my Me-Maw died the next.

The baby that we’ve tried all year to conceive and the pregnancy the Lord blessed us with in November is in jeopardy. I’ve contemplated staying quiet until we have more information, but I am not the “suffer in silence” type of person. And we need prayer.

{Warning: The below is probably too much information for most people, especially men. If you don’t want to know about blood and lady things, STOP reading.}

I had my first prenatal appointment on Wednesday (12/2), and that day I also began lightly spotting. At my appointment I was examined and blood was drawn to test my hCG (pregnancy hormone) level. I scheduled a few future appointments and an ultrasound for the 15th, and what should have been a joyful meeting was one filled with worry.

I went home and cried and worried and prayed. Then, I cried some more.

On Thursday the spotting was heavier and the cramping began.

Friday morning I was back at the doctor’s office to have more blood drawn to make sure that the hCG hormone was rising, but since I’d been spotting and cramping I was seen immediately.

Due to lack of information there wasn’t many answers available. The blood drawn on Wednesday did show a low hCG level, and that was concerning. However, my cervix was closed and tinted blue (which further confirmed my pregnancy), and I was told to remain hopeful, but that at this point the pregnancy could go either way.

I left the office completely devastated and in tears.

How could this happen?? For my pregnancies with Gavin and Arabella I did not have any spotting or cramping, so this is really new territory.

I took Gavin to get a haircut after the appointment, and by the time I got home there was a lot of bleeding happening. The rest of the day there was intense cramping and more blood than I’d like to admit. My heart was broken and I was convinced that this baby wasn’t going to make it.

Yesterday there was more bleeding, but not as much cramping. I’m trying to remain hopeful, but I’m also trying to be logical. I know that my God is bigger than this and He is absolutely in control, but my broken heart would rather accept this horrible news than to set myself up for further devastation. But I do have hope…it may be small, but it’s there.

I am only 6 weeks pregnant, but I believe that life begins at the moment of conception. Yes, I have two healthy, amazing toddlers that I thank God for every day, but it does not ease the pain of thinking my third born is in danger. This little 6-week-old life is my child, and this experience is agonizing.

If you’re reading this, can you please pray with me? Pray that my appointment Monday confirms a healthy baby and an explanation other than a miscarriage for all of this bleeding. Pray that I have peace with whatever happens, and that I can heal from this if the outcome is what I fear.

I’ll write again soon, hopefully with better news.

Besides praying and reading His word, Lauren Daigle’s album “How Can It Be” has been light in the darkness. The song below has especially helped my heart.

Party of 5

It’s been a bit quiet around here, and the beauty of it is that I’ve felt no pressure to write. Creating this new blog space allows me to write about what I’d like, when I’d like, instead of feeling the need to post a few times a week over at My Dolce Vita.

Like the other months of 2015, November is flying by. I truly cannot believe that the year is coming to an end. So many wonderful things have happened this year, but possibly the most wonderful of all happened on Saturday.

Our family of 4 is growing to a family of 5, and Baby Christmas #3 is scheduled to arrive at the end of July 2016!

I am honestly so excited and thankful and humbled by this blessing. Keith and I did not try or plan to have Gavin and Arabella, but we’ve been trying for #3 since the beginning of the year. I was so certain that if I timed it right then I would absolutely get pregnant.

HA!

I was so, so wrong.

Each month I would convince myself that I was pregnant, and each month I was disappointed. It sounds very cliche, but it wasn’t until I completely let go of my desires and trusted God’s timing and Will that I became pregnant.

I have prayed for this child and I have cried for this child. Every fiber of my being wanted to add another precious member to our family, but the enemy tried to convince me that I was not worthy of another baby.

But my God comforted me.

And my God is stronger than any plan or thought the enemy has.

And is His timing, I am carrying another child in my womb.

I’m currently 4 weeks pregnant and feel great! Over the past month I’ve been exercising and eating clean and have had a ton of energy. I’ve lost nearly 10lbs., but I’m still a little heavier than I’d like to be. However, I’m hopeful that I will continue bringing my weight down in a healthy manner. The only true pregnancy symptom I’ve had is a heightened sense of smell, where things that normally smell fine now smell funky. Now that I know that I’m pregnant I’m being more careful when carrying heavy loads or lifting weights, but I plan on continuing my workout regimen and doing my daily tasks.

I’ve also been experiencing what feels like round ligament pain, but this just means that things are progressing. 

Honestly, I would love to have another girl, but the gender of this baby is not important to me. I am praying for a healthy and strong baby, and for an enjoyable pregnancy. I was not sick at all for Gavin, and only a handful of time for Arabella, so let’s hope #3 is similar. I truly adore being pregnant, and am aiming for natural birth numero tres.

Lord, thank you for this little miracle. I am immensely grateful.

Biltmore Cooking Project - Entry 1

I tackled the first recipe out of the Biltmore Traditions cookbook on Halloween, and I am happy to report that it was a success! I made a Rustic Apple Pie (page 51) and it was just delicious. The kiddos loved it and I will definitely be making it again in the near future. I’ve never baked a pie from scratch before, but it was wonderful experience.

Even Spider Man loved it! 

---

Tackling the recipes from Biltmore Traditions is fun (and delicious), but the story of the Vanderbilts and Biltmore is incredibly fascinating and should be shared! With each recipe, I’ll be sharing stories and information with you! 

To truly understand all that Biltmore creator George Vanderbilt III accomplished, we must go back in time to learn of his family.

The Vanderbilts are one of the best known families in the United States, emigrating from Holland around 1650. The Vanderbilts lived modestly as farmers, but Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) had a different idea.

According to legend, at 16 years old he borrowed $100 from his mother and launched a ferry service across New York Bay…and this ferry service grew to a fleet of 100 steamships! Cornelius (also known as the Commodore) invested in railroads 50 years later and needless to say these two investment paid off extraordinarily well. Cornelius was the wealthiest industrialist of his time, and upon his passing he left his fortune to his oldest son, William Henry (George’s father).

To be continued…

Moon River and Me

I have a confession: I buy books, LOTS of books, and rarely ever read them. I don’t know why, but I’ll begin reading, get distracted or become uninterested and never finish. It’s quite disappointing, but I tend to fill my plate with lots of responsibilities and tasks and reading for pleasure isn’t a high priority.

Until a few days ago.

I brought the kids to Barnes and Noble last week and we spent the morning playing with the train table and looking at different books in the children’s section. We tend to do this a few times a month and sometimes we buy things, sometimes we don’t.

On this particular visit we played for a good hour and a half, and then made our way to the adult books. I could literally walk around Barnes and Noble for hours in a complete state of happiness…there’s just something about that place and makes my heart happy. (When I was a kid, I dreamt of having a library like Belle did in the Beast’s castle, so this love of B&N makes complete sense.)

On our way towards the exit, I saw a few book covers that caught my eye, but one in particular stopped me in my tracks. It had a lovely picture and an even lovelier title – Being Audrey Hepburn. I turned the book over and read that the author was the creator of the wonderful 90’s television show Clarissa Explains It All and I. was. sold.

Normally I buy a book, wait a few days to start, and then never finish.

But this time, I cracked my new book open an hour later. Over the next few days I used every available moment to read this enchanting book.

Cooking?

Bathing?

At night hiding under the covers with my book light?

Yes, yes, and yes. I read this book everywhere.

Time normally spent scrolling through social media was now being spent in NYC, Jersey, and the Hamptons with Lisabeth Dulac. For the first time in a long time, a book has totally transported me to a different world.

In this story, Audrey-obsessed Lisabeth tries on the iconic black Givenchy dress that Miss Hepburn wore herself in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and her life completely changed. She’s thrown into the world of celebrity and wealth, and this young girl from a broken home channels her inner Audrey to survive.

This Cinderella story is one full of fashion, friendship, romance, and the hardships of life, and I loved it all. Facts about Audrey can be found throughout the book, which made it even better. Lisabeth reminds me a little of Victoria from Judy Blume’s Summer Sisters, and honestly a little of myself.

As the author states in his acknowledgments, “The entire book attests to the enduring legacy of Audrey Hepburn, who intuitively and through her own self-design became the first movie star and actress of the poststudio age. Her personal transformation — the Pygmalion Effect, some call it — stands as a model for everyone, especially those young women living in the gray suburbs and forgotten inner cities aspiring to become something better and happier, intent upon the dangerous work of reinventing oneself despite whatever troubled origins they may have” (Kriegman, 2014, p. 325).

This.

This statement very well may explain the charming nature that exuded and still exudes from Audrey Hepburn. I’ve adored her for as long as I can remember, from her beauty and grace to her work with UNICEF, she is exquisite in every sense of the word. I am so grateful for this novel. Over these few hundred pages, I’ve completely fallen in love with reading again, and if it’s possible more in love with Audrey.

Mitchell Kriegman, thank you for this lovely novel. Thank you for making Audrey an adventure, and for bringing her to life again. Your writing is inspiring, and I have much enjoyed getting to know your characters.

Now, can you please write a sequel? 

The Biltmore Cooking Project

The first time I saw the Biltmore Estate was through the eyes of Thomas Kinkade. His painting Elegant Evening at Biltmore is a breathtaking depiction of America’s largest residence, and in 2008 I saw it while browsing Mr. Kinkade’s website. At the time I lived in Mandeville, Louisiana and had no idea if I would ever see its beauty in person. I had just begun talking to a blue-eyed Carolina boy who told me that he’d take me there one day, and guess what? He did!

That first visit to Asheville, North Carolina happened on Valentine’s Day in 2013. The blue-eyed boy was now my husband, we had a one-year-old little boy, and I was pregnant with our second child. I was blown away by the beauty of Biltmore, and how the Blue Ridge Mountains perfectly framed the estate.

Our First Trip to Biltmore, February 2013

While we were able to view the grounds, we arrived to the house a little too late and weren’t able to peek inside. Our next trip happened in May 2015 and we not only toured the house, but we also saw the most lovely exhibit called Dressing Downton. This exhibit showcased the beautiful clothing that the actors of Downton Abbey have worn over the years.

Our Second Trip to Biltmore, May 2015

With each visit I fall more and more in love with this magnificent estate. And while Asheville is only 4.5 hours away from where my family and I live, we don’t get to visit as much as I’d like.

And that got me thinking…

How can I bring a little of the Biltmore home with me?

During our last visit I happened to purchase a cookbook called Biltmore Traditions that is filled with recipes and stories from the Vanderbilt family. Each chapter is unique and focuses on a different theme of delicious dishes, and overall the cookbook is the most charming I’ve seen.

So here’s what I’ve come up with!

With permission from the Biltmore Company, I’ve created The Biltmore Cooking Project! This project consists of myself cooking every recipe from the Biltmore Traditions cookbook, along with sharing tidbits about Biltmore. George and Edith Vanderbilt has a fascinating story, and it is one that should be told.

Here are the rules:

• All recipes must be attempted regardless of my personal food preferences
• Must document the results of each recipe, even if the results are disastrous
• Must be completed by December 31, 2017
• Must have fun 

Even though my plate is full and my life is busy, I find enjoyment in cooking and in the Biltmore, so why not combine the two? I have to cook for my family anyway, and I might as well make it interesting!

Stay tuned for my first Biltmore meal!

Kindness and Encouragement

*Imported from A (Lindsey) Christmas Story*

Last week I registered for the final two classes of my master’s degree program. It’s completely surreal to me that come May 2016 I will have a master’s degree, especially since I never thought I would go to college. In high school I wasn’t interested in academics, and unlike my naturally genius husband, I have to work really hard to make decent/good grades. While most of my friends went straight from high school to college, I was busy figuring things out.

What in the world am I going to do?

That was the resounding thought that played over and over in my mind. I was 20 years old at this point and it had been two years since I graduated high school. All I had to show for it was a few insignificant jobs, a move to Laguna Beach, CA, many mistakes, and some unmentionables. I did enroll at a stenographer school in New Orleans during that two-year span with the hopes of learning the trade and becoming a court reporter, but I quickly decided that wasn’t for me. So, I withdrew and went on my way.

My grades in high school were average, and the thought of college was terrifying. I didn’t think I was smart enough, and certainly couldn’t afford to attend. I was lost and confused, and then I gained employment at Jesse Duplantis Ministries working as a data entry clerk.

And it was a breath of fresh air.

This was my first true office job and the atmosphere was wonderful. I loved the structured 9-5 job and really enjoyed the company of my co-workers. I was content and happy. One day an older co-worker inquired about my future, and I told her that I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. Then she said something that would change my life forever.

“Why can’t you go to college? You are smart, and you know that you can do anything…right? You truly can. You just have to believe that.”

Woah.

Was she serious?

Could I really do anything?

That got me thinking…if this woman believed in me, why didn’t I believe in myself? She stirred up hope and made me believe I could dream big. And not only dream big, but succeed big!

It wasn’t long after that conversation that I began searching for a college to attend. I found Regent University, a Christian school in Virginia, and applied to their distant learning program. My GPA barely made the cut, but I was provisionally accepted and began my college career in January 2007! I started out as a Communications major, but God had other plans, and I ended up graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2012. It took me 6 years, but I finished.

The morning of the commencement ceremony, 8 months pregnant with Arabella.

Now, I’m almost finished with my master’s, and honestly I don’t think I’m stopping there. My desire is to go to law school, and while the timing has yet to work out, I have faith that one day I will be a lawyer. I want to fight injustices and speak up for those who are unable to speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9). I want to protect babies and prosecute criminals and rehabilitate troubled youth. I want all of that and more.

All of this because someone believed in me.

My extended family and friends believed in me, too, but it was my co-worker who got through to me. I don’t even remember her name, but God used her in a BIG way. I am so thankful for this sweet woman who reminded me that I could achieve greatness. Sometimes all it takes is a little kindness and encouragement to change a life. Remember that the next time you’re given the opportunity to lift someone up with your words or actions. You never know what the outcome will be!

Home

*Imported from A Lindsey Christmas Story*

Monday. A new week, a fresh start, and as I write this my house it quiet. Everyone is still asleep, which is a bit odd since at least one of my toddlers is almost always awake by 7:00am. I awoke feeling hopeful, that today would be a great day, because let’s face it — last week was a long one. For no particular reason, it was the kind of week that made me miss living in Louisiana.

I miss my family.

I miss my friends.

I miss those comfort radio stations (94.5, I’m talking to you).

And I miss the food.

Born and raised in the bayou, I moved away for good in 2009 a few months after Keith and I began dating. I wanted to be close to the boy that I loved. He proposed a few months after my arrival in Charleston, and with the exception of briefly living in Georgia and North Carolina for Keith’s job, I’ve lived in South Carolina ever since.

I spent the majority of my childhood planning my escape. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life or where exactly I wanted to live, but I knew for sure it wasn’t going to be in the Louisiana. I was a mostly happy child and teenager, but a lot was going on under the surface. A lot of it was hormonal, but the majority of my internal struggles are directly linked to my life at home. One’s identity is shaped by their childhood and adolescence, and mine was heavily impacted by my father’s erratic behavior. So when I was old enough to do so, I got the heck out of there.

I moved out of my parents’ house when I was 17 and bee bopped around the state living with different family members. I also moved to California when I was 18 to be an au pair (long story…I’ll tell you sometime), then there was Texas for an even shorter time, but I always ended up back in Louisiana. My extended family and friends made that trip coming home worthwhile, and when I moved away in 2009 I had no idea that this would be my final exit.

It’s been almost 7 years since I’ve been permanently gone, and while I’ve lost my accent, I’m still a Cajun girl at heart. Growing up and becoming a woman while living a few states away has allowed me to view this quirky place with fresh eyes, and the things that used to bother me are no longer relevant. Every year around this time, I get a little more homesick than normal, and it’s all because of Louisiana football (New Orleans Saints, LSU Tigers, UL Ragin Cajuns). The game itself is exciting, but what I miss is the atmosphere it creates. Food, fellowship, and football is what Louisianians are all about. Charleston (and South Carolina in general) just isn’t on the same level, and it’s disappointing.

Nevertheless I’m trying to embrace the Lowcountry. Charleston is a beautiful, historical city and there is much to do and see. My family and I live around 20 minutes from downtown, and I think exploring this unique city more often would lessen my homesickness. I’ve always had difficulty blooming where I’m planted, because I’m always looking ahead or wondering what’s next. I’m going to work on that. I’m trying to lower my walls and let new people in, but that can be risky. My prayer is that God would give me peace and contentment. I don’t know what the future holds, but whether we stay in Charleston, move to Louisiana, or even relocate to a place that isn’t on our radar yet, I’m going to try and embrace it. Afterall, home is where my sweet husband and babies are.

Buongiorno

*Imported from A Lindsey Christmas Story*

Last night I did something completely outside of my comfort zone – I left my babies at home (with my sister) and drove to a restaurant I’ve never been to attend a beginners Italian language class! Okay maybe it’s not THAT shocking since anyone who truly knows me knows that I’m absolutely obsessed with all things Italian, however the part about actually showing up and trying something new is. 

I’m a massive planner, but unfortunately I’m horrible at seeing those plans come to life. Maybe I’m too ambitious, or ADD, but it’s hard for me to see a task from start to finish. I RSVP’d for this six week class a few weeks ago and had hoped that I’d actually attend. I’ve always wanted to learn Italian, and have some crazy dreams about branching my business out (more on that later), but there’s something so incredibly intimidating about meeting new people and making new friends.

But last night was different.

I showed up and had a great time! I met a sweet woman who is taking a trip to Italy in November, and we bonded over Under the Tuscan Sun and our mutual adoration for Italia. My teachers are awesome and very good at what they do, and this language class is only the beginning. There are gatherings at local restaurants, wine tastings, cooking classes, Italian-language speaking events, and so much more…all in Charleston!

I am so happy to have joined this community of Charlestonians that love Italy and feel the same as I do. I don’t know when I’ll finally make it to Italy, but when I do, I’ll be ready.

A Little Vulnerable

*Imported from A Lindsey Christmas Story*

This time around I’m hoping to write on a more consistent basis. Instead of treating this blog like a highlight reel and only writing about the happiest of topics, I’m choosing to be a little vulnerable. While I love social media, that’s exactly what it is — a highlight reel. My Facebook and Instagram pages are full of great moments, subtle complaining, snippets of things I’m passionate about, and mostly pictures. All that’s great, but life is more complicated than that.

While I respect that most issues should be kept private and one should not air their dirty laundry in public, I fear that keeping completely quiet is creating more problems in the long run. Holding everything inside and pretending like life is perfect is incredibly exhausting. My toddlers are amazing, I adore my husband, and am thankful for this life, but sometimes things are crazy and overwhelming. I rarely discuss the latter because I don’t want to come across as miserable or ungrateful…but you know what? It’s okay to talk about real life. Real life is messy and complicated and beautiful. We all struggle in one way or another, and I hope that by sharing a little of my personal struggles it will help others, and build new (and strengthen old) relationships.

Please keep this in mind when reading future posts. I understand that I’ll likely be criticized and judged, hopefully not too harshly, but I’d like to believe what others think of me isn’t my business. (Although, I do care a little, so please be nice.)

Begin Again

*Imported from A (Lindsey) Christmas Story*

Hello, and welcome to A (Lindsey) Christmas Story! I’m Lindsey, and I’ve created this space to connect with others, document my life, but mostly it’s just a place to write. From 2009 to 2013 I blogged pretty heavily over at My Dolce Vita, but time became limited and writing was put on the back burner. While my plate is still pretty full, I’ve decided to make time each day to write about whatever my little heart desires. I absolutely love looking back and reading my thoughts when I got engaged, during the wedding planning process, finding out I was pregnant (twice), or just expresses my feelings and passions.

I’m overflowing with ideas and passion, and putting “pen to paper” helps me to sort things out and feel a little lighter. I’m ready to write again, and I’m happy to document this season of life. Having two toddlers, being a wife and grad student, owning and operating a business, having tons of desires and hobbies, and turning 30 in a few months makes this a very busy and exciting season, and I can’t wait to share that with all of you (and my future self)!

Feel free to check out the tabs at the top of this site. The About section is a summed up bio, The List is my life bucket list, Favorites is a work in progress but will eventually house my favorite products and organizations, RDHVP links to my wedding videography site, and Contact provides a way to get in touch with me.

I’ll be spending more time on this site and less time on Facebook, so please stick around and let’s get to know each other. 

A (Lindsey) Christmas Story

Hi friends!

After taking a break from blogging, I'm back at it over at A (Lindsey) Christmas Story! My Dolce Vita has seen me through many moves, two pregnancies, a wedding, and so much more, but I needed a fresh space to write, and I hope you'll join me there!

www.aLindseyChristmasStory.com