In Which Grace And Emma Meet Giada

We have been a Williams-Sonoma family since before we were a family (this will be Dave's seventeenth Christmas with the company!) but until today the girls and I had never attended a celebrity chef cookbook signing. Over the years Dave has had the honor of meeting many celebrity chefs (some more than once even) and we have amassed quite a lovely collection of signed cookbooks from these events. Today the girls and I were thrilled to be able to attend our first ever signing, and even more excited that it was Giada De Laurentiss who we had the honor to meet.

Giada was indeed as lovely in person as she is on screen. She instantly connected with the girls and spent a fair amount of time talking with them. We spent far more time chatting with Giada than I had expected we would have, and as a result I was so grateful that we were at practically the end of the line (and therefor not really holding anyone up). The girls shared with her how much the love seeing her on Food Network Star and she let us know that they'll begin filming new episodes in January!

The entire experience today was truly fabulous! The staff at Williams-Sonoma did an absolutely wonderful job, and Giada was truly a delight to meet! What a truly special day, and one that we will surely talk about for years to come. Next up: choosing which recipe to make as our first from her lovely new cookbook! xo

And So It Begins

And so begins Dave's fifteenth holiday season with Williams-Sonoma. What began as a seasonal job for him during our Senior year of college turned into a regular part time job and has lasted ever since. There was a  period of time where this served as his full time job (though that period of time was short lived due to him passing his Physical Therapy licencing exam back in the day). For our entire marriage it has been his regular part time gig. His hours increase during the holiday season (of course) and it's then that I become a "Williams-Sonoma widow". The girls have grown up in this store and refer to the mall that it's in as "Daddy's mall".  I absolutely love this picture of the "Williams-Sonoma babies" hanging out at Williams-Sonoma while their Papa chats about the day and "the just beginning holiday season". It's another little glimpse into our lives at holiday time and it really is captured perfectly here. 

Tuesday Night. At The Mall.

There was.....

trying on funky sunglasses

and lovely headbands.  

a visit to the American Girl store. 

dessert (of course).

And looking fabulous while waiting for dessert. 

Followed by enjoying dessert while walking through the mall like they're 15 and 16 years old. 

Which lead to a visit to "Daddy's store" (of course) 

where they checked out all the super cool new things and entertained David and his friends with all their stories.

It was such a delightful way to spend the night. The mall was quiet and Grace and Emma were the only littles there (at least the only littles that I saw). It was amazing and wonderful and truly fabulous. As we wandered through the mall, the three of us hand in hand in hand, I couldn't help but (once again) think how truly blessed we are to live this most amazing lifestyle. I love that there was nothing stopping the three of us from heading out to the mall on a Tuesday evening. I love how much they love being together (with each other and with David and I, too). I love seeing them check things out, show things to each other ("Emma, you've just got to see this!") and how they can window shop with the best of them. I love how they love to surprise David whenever we are there and how they have all sorts of stories to tell his friends when we are visiting (Emma's tonight all started with "Don't forget...."). On the drive home, with the windows down and the three of us singing along to the songs in our iTunes playlist, I realized that this is what bliss is. I found myself thinking ahead to life ten years from now, and then twenty, knowing in my soul that this bond that the four of us share, that this bliss that exists, will always be this strong. And just when I think I couldn't be any more grateful for all that this incredible life has given me I am!

A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That

Today was one of those days where we did a little bit of everything, or at least it felt that way.

We went to dinner at with our friends from The Chronicles of Mad Molly.  

Emma decided to put her cheese cubs in my water. 

Sure, it may be gross, but she had a blast!

The girls absolutely love the ladies room at the mall. 

They love to dance under the crystal chandelier. 

While she is dancing, Emma is singing: 

"I know you" from Sleeping Beauty's Once Upon a Dream song. 

A bathroom with a fabulous crystal chandelier totally lends itself to dancing under it 

while singing that song.

Then it was time to visit Daddy.

For the past ten years, David has worked part time at Williams-Sonoma. 

It's always a treat to visit Daddy at the store.  

We had a wonderful day, full of simple adventures and good friends.
On that note, dear friends, I am going to head to bed.  

We'll see you tomorrow.