Feels like home

Making our house feel like home—it’s always been important to me. Like most little girls, I grew up daydreaming about what my future would look like— My husband, wedding, job, children, and home. What would it be like? How would it feel? What colors and paintings would I put up on the wall? ...Maybe it’s because I grew up with a Mother who had a passion and talent for design, but somewhere along the way—I inherited the trait. Well, the passion at least.

It didn't take long for my passion for making our house a cozy home to spill out into our New York apartment. First night— kitchen was set up. Complete with the main colors of red and white, an inspirational quote above the stove, magnets and photos on the fridge and the family proclamation hanging proudly on the wall. Scot had to laugh at me as most would finish unloading boxes... or at least ....the moving truck, before starting in on the whole picture hanging, color coordinating, and “cutesy” decorations thing. But I couldn't help it, I was SO excited!

With that all being said, it wasn't at all surprising that I was DETERMINED to make sure we started our Christmas decorations with a Christmas tree. Most things I’m flexible about, but we were getting a tree. Our first tree—I mean come' on, it was a must! Granted, we won’t even be here for Christmas, but until December 20^th our tree will stand proudly in the corner of our apartment, just another aspect of making it feel like home.

Scot was excited too, but obviously not AS excited as I was, but like a good husband he pretended :)


Determination took us to a whole new level as we searched for hours Monday night for our FHE activity. First we looked at some stores on the Upper East Side—it’s close to home. Won’t be far to carry we thought.

Not open.

Ok, how about Home Depot? We wandered down to the Home Depot about 23 blocks down from us. They only had fake trees and for an ENORMOUS asking price. Wasn't worth it we thought.

Then we became hopeful again as the manager of the store we were in made us aware that the Home Depot on 23^rd street had real trees and for a very reasonable price—so the adventure continued and sure enough, we found our tree.

Now....

 we just have to figure out how to get it home.

Well, no one ever said Christmas trees can’t be taken on the Subway right? Right.

 I have to say, we got some strange looks and people smiling and whispering to themselves as we squished into a subway with our tree. I told you we were determined.


 

It was a long journey but with the tree all set up and decorated, it was all worth it.  

Putting on the first ornament! ...

Now it's officially Christmas time in the Marsden house, and with the new tree it's just feeling even more like

Home.

 Confession: Google spell check just taught me that its orNament and not orDament. Embarrassing. #22yearoldspellingproblems 

Thanksgiving Getaway

After a long 3 months trapped within buildings of the city, I finally escaped! ...and what a wonderful escape it was. :) The Thanksgiving holiday is always one of my favorites, and this year was an extra special one because it's the first Thanksgiving I've spent with my family in 5 years, and with my Husband! (Well, married that is. We spent Thanksgiving together last year)

It started with a VERY early flight from NJ to Boston. The flight was beautiful. Incredible really.

 Sunrise. Ocean. Trees. Clouds. Window seat.

The view was worth every penny of the monster taxi fair that we had to pay to get us to the airport on time. So much for finding cheap flights...

I suppose the taxi driver made it worth the money as well. 3:30 in the morning and I don't think I've ever met a more chipper guy. Just over 5 feet tall, bushy beard and a list of never ending stories. He cranked up the Christmas music and insisted on having us sing along with him....haha. What a ride. 

The next few days were spent eating lots of yummy food, relaxing, going for a walk in the woods by the ocean, playing football in the yard, falling asleep on the floor, making  pies, eating pies, eating lots of yummy food, watching the sunset, hiking a mountain, spending time with friends, spending time with family, eating lots of yummy food, having a fire under the stars, roasting hot dogs, going shopping, looking through old photo albums, sleeping in, eating lots of yummy food, driving for the first time in months, opening early Christmas presents, singing at the dinner table, going to church, eating lots of yummy food, meeting new people, packing more than enough, smelling the crisp autumn air, gathering decorations, taking too many pictures,  going out to eat, tagging a Christmas tree, eating lots of yummy food, sipping apple cider, watching a football game, listening to loud music, swinging on a swing, seeing the movie Lincoln and...

oh ya, eating lots of yummy food. :) 

WARNING: Picture overload, once again. 

All in all, I'd say it was.....

 a vacation well spent. 

Happy Thanksgiving.

Success

... Lately we've spent a lot of time pondering the word. Mainly due to Scots future career decisions and my current situation of coming to the end of an internship and school and not really knowing where to go next. We want to be successful in life, but what does that truly mean? In New York everyone spends so much time working, and becoming "successful" I sometimes fear they are all missing the true successes of life.  In this world when we hear someone say, "man, he/she is very successful" we automatically think of success as material matters such as big money, big career, big house, expensive cars, expensive clothes, expensive phones and computers. It's got me thinking--is this really the definition I want, when I think about being "successful?" I don't know. But then.... the weekend happened.

WARNING: Picture Overload. 

On Saturday Scot & I had the opportunity to spend the day volunteering with a service organization from our church. We were out providing service to those in Breezy Point who had lost literally everything to Hurricane Sandy. It was so devastating to see what had happened to these wonderful people. We felt so privileged to be able to help in whatever way we could. During the middle of the day, we met the sweetest older couple who's house had been flooded  4 feet deep throughout their living room, kitchen, and entire first floor. They lost so much. We had to throw out all their furniture, and special belongings as well as  tear down their walls in order for them to be replaced. We cleaned out their crawl spaces under their house and took out all the insulation. They were so appreciative of our help, and as we parted with a prayer, the sweet old man raised his head with tears in his eyes for the service we had done for them. It's those moments that make you feel so blessed to be alive. To be part of this world. To feel the love between strangers. To feel successful.

At that moment I decided I would redefine the word of success in my mind, to a much better and wiser one than the world views. A definition derived from a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.This is to have succeeded. "

\

We were so grateful to have such a wonderful day of service. 

As for the rest of the weekend, it was super fun. Saturday night we went out for Thai food with one of Scots friends from high school and his wife who live in the city. Derek & Amanda Walker. It was a blast, and REALLY good food. 

And then last night we had the treat of having our family on the West Side come over for dinner. AND we got to meet our new baby niece--Violet. 

she is so precious. 

We fed the family some yummy Lasagna, veggies and warm french bread. It was delicious and so fun to see them! 

  Blue eyed little sweetie.

What a successful weekend it was. And we loved every minute of it.