{Happy Thanksgiving}

Happy Thanksgiving, sweet friends!  What a wonderful day it is…A day to simply be one with your family and friends and be thankful for all the incredible things in your life.

{via}

I've spent a great deal of time this week reflecting on my many blessings, and I'm so happy to share this day with all the special people that make my heart whole.

{via}

I'm so thankful for all of you, and I hope you enjoy every second of your day!

xoxo,
Katherine

{Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids}

It's Thanksgiving Eve, and I'm sure you are all busy putting the final touches on your holiday prep for tomorrow.  By now you have probably finalized your menu and decor plans, but do you have plenty of activities lined up to keep your kiddos busy throughout the fun festivities?  If not, look no further!!  Below you will find some creative crafts for the kids that you can have ready in no time.

{Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes}

{Paper Plate Crafts} 

{Thankful Tree}

{Thanksgiving Word Scramble - Click to Download} 

{Thanksgiving Word Search - Click to Download}

Since my little Kate isn't quite old enough for the activities above, I found some ideas that will be fun family activities to do with our sweet baby.  The projects below will make great keepsakes, and I know Kate is going to love dipping her little fingers and toes in the paint. :)

{Family Handprint Turkeys}

{Turkey Handprint Plate}

Enjoy your day, and have a great time crafting with your kids! :) xoxo, Katherine

{Forever Thankful}

{via}

I thought a lot about life yesterday.  For some reason, I woke up stressing about all the little things in my life that haven't been going exactly how I planned, and I honestly let those thoughts get the best of me.  My mind was racing, my little girl was all over the place, my laundry bin was overflowing, my dishwasher needed to be loaded, my head was pounding, my errands had me sitting in traffic, and my to-do list was never-ending.  Tears were streaming, and I felt defeated.

And then I talked to my Mom and Dad…That's all it took…A simple and sweet phone call that made me realize exactly how lucky I am.  When I hung up the phone, I took a few moments to myself to reflect on all the wonderful things in my life.

As I sat in peace, I heard my husband reading a book to our sweet Kate in the other room, and it hit me like a ton of bricks that I have everything I need in my life and more.  I am the lucky one, and I thanked God right then and there for all the blessings in my life and for giving me my best year yet.  It's the year my daughter was born…It's the year that I became a Mom, and it's the year that I held my beautiful baby in my arms for the very first time.  Gosh just typing that makes me cry happy tears and fills me with so much joy.

I started reflecting on those little things that were causing me stress earlier, and I gained a whole new perspective on my day…The laundry can wait, the dishes can be done tomorrow, the traffic is just temporary, my to-do list will eventually get done, and thank God my daughter is healthy, happy and physically able to play to her little heart's desire.

So, in honor of this special holiday week, I choose to be forever thankful and so very grateful for all the perfect things that I have in my life…

My sweet baby girl…I love her so much it hurts, and my love for her grows stronger every day.

A roof over my head and my precious little family to come home to every night.

My wonderful husband--my best friend--who supports me always.

My amazing parents and sister who are just a phone call/short drive away…I don't know what I would do without them.

The best group of friends a girl could ask for…They always put a smile on my face.

{Holding my baby girl for the first time.}

From now on, when I start to sweat the small stuff, I'm going to look at this picture and be thankful for all that I have.  This is the first time I held my baby girl…This is the moment my life was complete, and thanks to her and my family, I'm the happiest girl in the world.

xoxo,
Katherine

{Last Minute Thanksgiving Decorations}

Thanksgiving is almost here!  Can you believe that in just a few short days we'll be gathered around our tables, surrounded by friends and family, enjoying turkey feasts and all the fixins'? :) I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

We always head out of town for my Leventis Family Reunion over Thanksgiving, but if I were to host the festivities in my own home, here are some things I would definitely do… {Click links below pictures for tutorials.}

{Easy and Elegant Gold Decor via Refinery 29}

{Welcome Pumpkin via BHG}

{Thanksgiving Garland via A Beautiful Mess}

{Pretty Place Cards via Brit + Co}

I hope you all enjoy your start to this special week!

xoxo,
Katherine

{2013 Pinterest Holiday Giving Guide}

This weekend called for a bonus post because I just got some fun news…One of my Pinterest boards was selected for the 2013 Pinterest Giving Guide!  How exciting!  I'm a huge Pinterest fan, so I was thrilled to be selected as a contributor.

My board features fun finds for grill-lovin' guys, and you can check it out here.

Follow Katherine Leventis Beverly Gifts for Grill-Lovin' Guys on Pinterest Are you on Pinterest?  If so, let's pin together!! :)  I'd love for you to follow me here… Katherine Leventis Beverly Happy Weekend!! xoxo, Katherine

{Five Favorites}

Some weeks seem to just fly by in a flash, and this was one of those weeks for us.  We had a great weekend in Columbia with my family, and then we had a whirlwind of good days to follow.  We're gearing up for the holidays, and we light up every time we talk about what new traditions we're going to start this year with our sweet Kate.

Here are a few other things that brightened up our week…

{Kate already has such great little friends…Cute treat from sweet Wells.}

{I bought my 1st pomegranate, and these seeds were delicious!}

{Snagged this at the grocery store to start getting into the holiday spirit.}

{I really need this sign. :)}

{How is it already time to plan this? Working on making my girl's 1st bday so magical.}

How was your week?  Any fun plans for the weekend?

xoxo,
Katherine

{Mommy Must-Haves: Nursery Checklist}

I'm overcome with joy every time I hear that a friend or family member is expecting a sweet baby, and I think my heart will always skip a beat when I see pictures of husbands and wives in hospital scrubs anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new bundle of joy.  I have these feelings because I know exactly what they are about to experience.  It takes me right back to the day that our sweet Kate was born…It will always be the most wonderful day of my life, and it was then that my heart became whole.  She is the littlest, biggest part of our lives…She's the BEST part of our lives.

Those first few weeks of being a new parent were definitely a learning experience, and they are times that we will cherish forever.  My family and friends offered so much advice and support, and I will always be grateful for that.  My parents spent the first week of Kate's life with us, and that week will forever be the best week ever!!  It was then that I learned so much about being a new mom from the two people who are the most wonderful parents anyone could ask for, and I feel so blessed to have them as my support system as I take this journey in my life.

I started my "Mommy Must-Haves" series in hopes of being a support system to those of you who are about to embark on the journey of becoming a parent.  Every new day presents new challenges, and hopefully some of my tips will help you along the way.

I came across this nursery checklist, and it's a great tool to use when preparing for your little one.  Throughout the past nine months of Kate's life, we have acquired everything on this list…They really covered all the bases, and I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.  So, print it out, check it off, and have your nursery prepped for your little one in no time! :)

Click here to read all posts from the "Mommy Must-Haves" series.

xoxo,
Katherine

{Thanksgiving Printables}

In keeping with my Thanksgiving theme this month, I thought I'd share some pretty printables that you can display around your house to enrich your holiday decor.  The talented ladies over at Designer Blogs have graciously offered access to these fabulous printables, and you can download them for free here.  I just love their chalkboard look, and there are so many creative ways to showcase them around your Thanksgiving table.

Want more inspiration for entertaining your Thanksgiving guests?  Check out these posts for great ideas!
Holiday Place Cards, Gold Table Decor, Pumpkin French Toast Waffles, Holiday Spice Simmering Stovetop Potpourri

xoxo,
Katherine

** Photos courtesy of Designer Blogs

{DIY: Pumpkin-Sugar Body Scrub}

One of my favorite things to do during these cold Winter months is soak in a warm bubble bath with a big glass of champagne.  :)  In addition to the bubbles and the bubbly, I'm also pretty obsessed with sweet-smelling exfoliating scrubs.  I don't know about you, but this frigid weather mixed with strong winds always results in dry skin for this girl.  My solution?  This Sugar Body Scrub that's as sweet as pumpkin pie!!  You can make it yourself with just 4 ingredients and 2 simple steps…Here's how:

{freutcake}

Pumpkin-Sugar Body Scrub

• 1 cup course raw sugar or salt

• 1/2 cup pure organic pumpkin puree (do not use pumpkin pie filling)

• 1 tsp honey

• 1 Tbsp sweet almond oil

Directions:


1. Mix sugar, pumpkin, honey and almond oil together in a small bowl until well combined. Add more or less sugar and oil based on personal preferences.


2. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Note: This scrub will keep up to 1 week so it's best to make it in small batches.

Hope you love it!!

xoxo,
Katherine

{Pumpkin French Toast Waffles}

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week?  The time is flying by, and it won't be long before we're gathered around our tables enjoying a turkey feast with our families.

In the meantime, I thought I'd share an easy breakfast treat that you can whip up one morning for your family and your holiday guests.  The pumpkin twist makes it perfect for the season, and it's quick and simple so you can have breakfast on the table in no time.  Enjoy!!

{Brit + Co.}

Ingredients:


• 8 pieces stale bread

• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

• 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon allspice

• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1/2 cup syrup 

{Brit + Co.}

 Instructions:

1. Start by whisking together the almond milk, spices, and pumpkin puree.

2. Dip each piece of bread into the mixture, covering it completely.

3. Stack pieces of soaked bread onto a hot waffle maker. Make sure to spray the waffle maker with non-stick spray. Pro-tip: No waffle maker? No problem! You can makes these in a pan over medium heat.

4. Once the waffles are done, remove from the waffle maker or pan and serve hot with plenty of your favorite syrup!

{Brit + Co.}

{Brit + Co.}

{Brit + Co.}

xoxo,

Katherine

{Five Favorites}

Vacation is always fun, but there is nothing better than being settled back in your cozy home, sleeping in your soft, warm bed, and going through the motions of your daily, comfortable routine.  Although we all loved the 80 degree weather in Florida, it was great to be back home this week enjoying all the little things that make us so happy.

The brisk, Fall air is getting us excited about the upcoming holiday season, and here are a few more things that put smiles on all of our faces this week...Family photo shoots, spur-of-the-moment fun, and a few firsts for our little Kate.

{A sneak peek of our baby girl from our photo shoot. She makes my heart so full!!}

{Looking back at pictures from Forrest's alumni game…I love these sweet Daddy/Daughter moments.}

{My first red cup of the season!!  Hooray for the holidays!!}

{Kate's first day at gymnastics, and she loved every minute of it!}

{Impromptu sushi date with my man and my main girl…Perfect night!}

I hope you all have a happy weekend, and I can't wait to see you back here next week!!

xoxo,
Katherine

{Simple Holiday Place Cards}

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I'm counting down the days until I'm surrounded by my family enjoying good food and festive fun!!  I'm blessed to come from a very large Greek family, and every year over Thanksgiving we have our Leventis Family Reunion.  It's one of my favorite times of the year, and I always feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family filled with special traditions.

What are your family traditions for Thanksgiving?  Do you prepare your feast and decorate your own table?  If so, check out this beautiful setting idea…It's so simple and sure to impress your guests.

{Farm Fresh Therapy}

Supplies:

• Mini Letter Stamp Kit
• 2 1/2 Inch Circle Punch
• Black Ink
• Brown Card Stock

Easy Peasy Steps…Cut your circles from card stock.  Tape your letters together with masking tape so you can stamp everything all at once {major time-saver}. Dip in your ink, stamp, done!! 

{Farm Fresh Therapy}

xoxo,
Katherine