Why I ♥ Christmas: Yummy Sweet Treats

Along with Christmas dinner comes DESSERT!! I am a lover of sweets, no doubt. Tonight for our annual Kleckley/Link Christmas dinner I'm bringing a southern favorite...Humingbird Cake! The recipe comes straight out of the Southern Living cookbook. I've been reading and looking at the pictures in my mom's Southern Living magazines since I was in elementary school.  Full of beautiful deisgn inspiration and yummy recipies, it's definitely my all-time favorite magazine! As soon as me and Kyle's home is complete, and our mailbox is put up I'm subscribing!

 

Humingbird Cake

What you'll need:

 3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 cups sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamin

3 large eggs; beaten

1 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple

1 cup chopped pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below)

What you'll do:

*Combine the first 5 ingredients in a LARGE bowl. Add the eggs and oil, stir until moist (do not beat). Stir in the vanilla, pineapples, pecans, and bananas.

*Pour batter into greased and floured pans of your choice (I used two cake pans). Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Let cool in pans for about 10 minutes, remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

*Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top/sides of the cake. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top if you wish! Store in refrigerator.

Cream Cheese Frosting

What you'll need:

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter or margerine, softened

1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

What You'll Do:

*Beat cream cheese and butter with mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.

Merry Christmas & ENJOY ♥

 

Why I ♥ Christmas: PLAID

Graceful Adornment

Plaid Medley

Plaid, plaid, and more plaid! I've been seeing it ALL OVER, and I love it! It's so Christmas. Plaid reminds me of a warm fire inside of a wooden cabin up in the Colorado mountains. Instead I'm enjoying 60 degree southern weather...NOT! Can we just have ONE year down here with COLD Christmas weather? PLEASE. Anywho - I found this vintage plaid ribbon, and I've been using it like crazy around here...if you can't tell already. 



Why I ♥ Christmas: Gift Wrapping

I love to give, because I love to see someone smile! What I really enjoy is gift wrapping before I give. I saw this gift tag idea in a Southern Living magazine a few years ago, and I have used it ever since.

How to: All you need is the cutest picture of that special someone who you're giving to. I usually copy/paste mine into a Word Document and shrink it to a size of 2.5"x1" (if you choose to print from your own computer). 

 Cut it out and glue the picture on your favorite paper. Add it to your gift which ever way you choose, and VOILA! You've got yourself a gift tag that is about as personalized as a gift tag can get.

Merry Christmas and ENJOY ♥

New: SUPER CUTE ETSY SHOP!

My friend Katie FINALLY opened her Etsy shop just in time for the holidays! She has some really cute ornaments in her shop...it's worth taking the extra minute to check out Libby Kate Designs.

This is what I just bought....

Why I ♥ Christmas: Dave Barnes' New Album

I'm taking a break from writing final papers, because I feel the need to share this with you. Dave Barnes has a new Christmas album... "Very Merry Christmas". I downloaded mine on iTunes for $6.99!
I'm pretty sure all of my friends who have been married danced on their wedding night to at least one of his songs, and we are more than likely going to be doing the same for our wedding. I'm already a fan of Dave Barnes, but because of this new Christmas album I'm a way bigger fan now.
From a cover of Bing Crosby's "I'll Be Home for Christmas" to a duet with Hillary Scott (from Lady Antebellum) this is a Christmas must have. In my iTunes window, this album defintely stays on repeat. :)

ENJOY ♥

Why I ♥ Christmas: My Favorite Color is Red

Maybe I'm partial to the color red because it's one of the two Christmas colors...who knows? I do love the color red. I like red walls, red shoes, red ribbon, red furniture, red coats, Rudolph's red nose, etc...It's been hard, but I've done well by not going over board with too many red items in my shop. Check out the couple of red items I DO have. ENJOY ♥

Plaid Medley Necklace

Christmas Rose Earrings

December Blog Series: Why I ♥ Christmas



Organic Bay Chili Wreath by FayeMarie at Etsy



If you've been following for a while, or if you know me well you know that I absolutely love Christmas! There are so many reasons I love Christmas, and I want to share them with you. I've decided a blog series focused on Christmas might help you comprehend the amount joy this time of year brings me. From delicious recipies to gift wrapping ideas,  all throughout the month of December I'm going to share with you several reasons Christmas brings me joy. Stay tuned to get inspired.

Check out the FayeMarie Etsy shop for completely unique Christmas decor.

ENJOY ♥

Monday: Free Shipping + Free CDJ Gift

In celebration of Cyber Monday I'm extending FREE worldwide shipping until tommorow at 7pm Central time. PLUS, a free gift with each Charm Du Jour purchase.

Check out Charm Du Jour HERE...And all new listings next week!

Luminous Holiday Necklace

It's BLACK FRIDAY!!

HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY!!!

Don't forget...FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING at Charm Du Jour!!

ENJOY ♥

Christmas Rose Necklace

Delighted Earrings

Lovely Lady Necklace

I am so Thankful!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm at a point in my life where my list of blessings seem to be as long as the Great Wall of China! I'm in grad school to teach, I have what I think is the perfect job working with the sweetest kids and staff, I'm getting married in March, I have a very loving family (and in March I'm going to have TWO wonderful families), and we are working to build our first home when we're married! I can walk, I can see, I can hear, I have warm meals every night (thanks mom!!)...I have so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving that my list would take up 5 blog posts (NO LIE).

Grandma's Button Ring

Don't get me wrong...everything isn't always perfect over here every second of everyday, and when it's not I have to remind myself to count the blessings I do have.Don't forget to be thankful for YOUR many blessings!! What are some things you're thankful for?

ENJOY ♥ your Thanksgiving!

Black Friday = FREE SHIPPING EVERYWHERE!!!

It's almost BLACK FRIDAY and everyone gets FREE shipping all around the world...Friday until Sunday!!

By the way have you always wondered where the term Black Friday comes from???

I have! I've always wondered where in the world they (whoever it was) thought of the name "Black Friday". To close out my curiosity, I did a little research. Don't ask why I'm doing research when I don't have to, but believe it or not I did.

We all know it's the Friday after Thanksgiving, the start of Christmas shopping, and the start of insane holiday trafffic! Even the Macy's Thanksgiving parade celebrates the beginning of the shopping season. My sisters and I grew up watching the Macy's Thanksgiving parade EVERY SINGLE Thanksgiving morning...If you haven't noticed, guess who closes out the parade?? SANTA CLAUSE! Santa Clause ends the parade every year with the song "Here Comes Santa Clause". He symbolizes the start of the Christmas season. Watch this year and you'll notice!

Browsing around the internet I found out the term Black Friday wasn't made up just for this shopping day. It was actually first used with a financial crisis way back in 1869. That's kind of funny because I'm sure there's plenty of us who experience "financial crisis" after an entire day shopping from 3 a.m. until midnight!

Anywho the term has recently been used on the day after Thanksgiving, because retailers see a rare increase in sales which puts them "in the black" (if you're an accountant you should know what this means). For those of you who don't know, I found out it means recording losses in red and gains in black. So, the huge boost in sales puts the retailers in the black. THIS is how the crazy shopping day after Thanksgiving gets its name.

Don't forget to check out Charm Du Jour Friday-Sunday for FREE SHIPPING!!!

Have a Peaceful Season...

Kyle and I celebrated our engagement a couple weekends ago surrounded by wonderful family and friends. Each guest brought an ornament to help us decorate our Christmas tree every year. Everything about that night was perfect, especially the beautiful Christmas decor. By the way, I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!

Notice my Etsy favorites ------>

No matter how much hustle and bustle we all experience during the holiday season, to me there is always something so peaceful about this time of year. The ornament my parents gave to me and Kyle had "Prince of Peace" written on it. It inspired this necklace...Peaceful Season.

I love that...the Prince of Peace. Every year we celebrate the birth of Jesus...Maybe that's why the Christmas holidays are full of peace, warmth, and joy. He is our Prince of Peace. It's only through Him we will find peace! What a great reminder to wear around your neck?

ENJOY ♥ 

Thanksgiving Holiday = a "TO DO" list!

Today is the start to our 9 day Thanksgiving break! Coffee in my flannel PJs for 9 whole mornings, the Today show/ Hoda & KLG for 5 mornings...this is going to be amazing!  It's a break from the sweet little kiddos at school, but not from the things I need to catch up on from being at school all day. I love Thanksgiving holiday mostly because it means CHRISTMAS is next in line! As for my list of  "to dos"....I don't remember a thing if I don't write it down.

Thanksgiving Holiday TO DO:

1. Reflect on the many blessings in life that I am THANKFUL for!
2. Go by Mistletoe & Moss- I love to browse through all of the Christmas JOY!
3. Get my oil changed - I'm only 1,600 miles OVERDUE!
4. Take pics & List new items - I've got TONS of new holiday peices made!
5. Complete EDUC 642 final packet
6. Pick up wedding dress in Houston (Mon.) - My wedding dress came in 2 months earlier than expected!!!
7. Pack ornaments from our engagement party 
8. Work on EDUC 654 assignments
9. Wash my car - IT IS A MESS!
10. Take Charlie for walks
11. Submit observation hours for the semester
12. Work at Engleside house (our future home)- I finally get to help out some more!!!
13. Naughty or Nice Christmas party!  
14. Work on Christmas gift shopping
15. Dig up landscaping at Engleside
16. Pick out lights, kitchen knobs, etc...for house
17. Work on registry
18. last but not least...RELAX & SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS!

Thank you to the Pilgrims and Indians!

Enjoy ♥ your holiday!

Attn:: Lake Charles Locals!!

I am super excited to announce that Charm Du Jour  will be at Mistletoe & Moss this year with Mimosa Boutique! The holiday market will be Wednesday (Nov. 17) thru Saturday (Nov. 20). Mistletoe & Moss has been a great Christmas shopping experience for years now, and I am thrilled Mimosa will be including me this year. Remember to look for Mimosa Boutique's booth and then look for the Charm Du Jour tree! 

Happy Halloween!

I HATE anything scary (scary movies, haunted houses, being home alone, etc..) but I do love Halloween! I only love it because I feel like it's the kick off to the holiday season. I love the fall weather that comes with it, I love the pumpkins hidden in the landscaping, I love the cute kids running around the neighborhood, and I love the old Halloween cartoons that come on TV. 

The holidays are full of happy, warm, loving times spent with my family and friends. My absolute all time favorite is Christmas. I could go on for days about the million reasons I love Christmas (future blog series maybe?). Christmas is defintely the grand finale of all holidays!

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween!

Check out these pumpkin orange earrings...ENJOY ♥

Saturday Sunrise Earrings

Busy Bee...

 

When Kyle and I started house hunting this was one of the first houses we went into. It's about a 50 year old house, and it seemed like NOBODY put any love into it  for about 30 years now. When we walked into it I saw the potential and Kyle saw the work!

Well, now it's ours and we've been putting a lot of love and work (Kyle was right about that) into it! We're going to change it from just a house to make it our home. It will be a home just in time for the wedding in March, and I can not wait. It's been a super busy life, but full of TONS of blessings!

When you're wondering about me being 2 weeks late on posts...I'm probably putting some love and work into the house making this our home. :)

Fall Weather = LOVING LIFE!

The fall weather is definitely here...no doubt! It is absolutely beautiful and puts me in a permenant good mood. Here in the South this cool and dry weather is almost as joyful as the Christmas season! To me the fall is like the "kick-off" to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. LOVE IT! Check out some jewelry that is perfect for this fall...ENJOY ♥

Gold Leaf Earrings

Timeless Blue Earrings

Medallion Necklace



Way Too Long!

Wowzers! I can't believe it's been this long since I've blogged. I have 100 million things (GREAT THINGS) keeping me super busy. Between working on my masters and planning a wedding, this point of my life has been FULL of so many blessings! Even though it causes me to neglect my blog, I will take a busy life over a slow life anyday.

Okay, the Saints lost in over time yesterday which is no fun! But lets forget about it, and check out this necklace that would look perfect on YOU during that next Saints game.

ENJOY :)

Click Here

Saturday Mornings...

Happy Saturday morning to everyone! I love Saturday mornings, because it means I can spend a little extra time drinking my coffee in my pajamas.

Enjoy these lovely Saturday Sunrise earrings...

Saturday Sunrise

Something New...

Modern Glamour Necklace

A new take on a strand of simple pearls!

Promises, Promises!

I had a great time with my family (and soon to be husband) hiking and biking through the BEAUTIFUL mountains of Colorado! The weather was absolutely GORGEOUS!

Well I'm back home to the humidity, and just like I've promised I listed a lot of new things for y'all to see.

*Click on the titles above each picture to learn more about each item*

Enjoy ♥

Tag Along Necklace

Gold Splendor Bracelet

Gold Leaf Earrings

Captivating Night Necklace

Southern Treasury

 Check out the latest treasury in which Charm Du Jour and the Belle Bracelet has been featured!

Southern Charm Treasury -- spend some time clicking around and checking out all the neat things.

P.S. Don't forget about all the new items that I will be adding to the shop next week!

ENJOY ♥

New Items!

I have some new things made and ready to share in about a week. Take a sneak peak at just a couple...ENJOY ♥

I'm on The Knot for Tying the Knot!

Soiree earrings

I'm not really sure where all these cheesey blog titles are coming from? Maybe it's been since the proposal I am in total cheese mode? If you know me well your reading this now thinking, "Sista, you are ALWAYS in cheese mode". So just imagine that times a million for the next 8 months!!!  

Any-who I'm LOVING every second!

Belle bracelet

After the proposal I was really excited  about getting to make a wedding website. So I made a website for Kyle and I on The Knot! Check it out HERE...I am updating and changing things EVERYDAY!

Pearl necklace

While we are in wedding mode check out some of the things I have in my shop  perfect for any beautiful bride! (Follow the links below each picture)

ENJOY ♥ 

Very Fond of This Frond...

Gold Frond Necklace

Frond (n): an often large, finely divided leaf, esp. as applied to the ferns and certain palms.

Okay so the leaf on this necklace is so not comparable to a leaf of a fern, but I liked the name and I liked that it ryhmes with fond...fond of this frond. I love simple gold necklaces like this, because if you're like me and you can't decide which necklace to wear...wear them all! Layer them! I love the look of layered necklaces. Check out this necklace HERE that I just listed in my shop. Maybe you might become fond of this frond. Haha :)

 ENJOY ♥

ATTENTION: Lake Charles, LA Locals

Mimosa Boutique will be reopening Monday July 5th, and a lot of my Charm Du Jour jewelry will be sold there…Whoo hoo! I was in the shop yesterday helping the new owner Lauren Monroe set out some of the new SUPER CUTE and AFFORDABLE clothes/jewelry she’s got in stock. Mimosa is such a great thing for all of us girls in Southwest Louisiana!!!

Most of you are off Monday for the holiday so go by Mimosa and check out everything Lauren has in store for Lake Charles!

Below are only few sneak peak pictures of  Charm Du Jour items that will be sold at Mimosa…

He Asked and I Said YES!!

Y'all just thought I was way behind on posts...Now I am engaged, and my mind is in a whole different world of happiness!! Kyle and I have been engaged five days now and these have been the best days ever. Everything  about that night was perfect!

The proposal was more perfect than I could have ever imagined! Simple (just like us), but with a whole lot of thought (just like KYLE!). After he proposed both of our families were all waiting for us at his parents house. Our families mean a lot to each of us so this was the perfect end to a PERFECT night. Kyle has ALWAYS been good at making everything so special!!!

AHHH! I really feel like the luckiest girl in the whole wide world! For the past six years the Link's have always made me feel like family, but I can't wait to LEGALLY be a part of such an amazing family!

Brittney Link....I'm going to love that!!!!!!!!!!! ♥