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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Christmas, Fashion, Shay's Closet ·

Merry & Bright!


Guuuuuuuuuys!

Christmas is almost here!!

I’m part ecstatic and part panicked.  Anyone else?

We still have so many Christmas-y things to pack into our week, so I better get on with my post so that I can get on with all the holiday FUN!

Today’s post is a random hodgepodge of everything HOLIDAY!  We have pics of us with Santa (woohoo!), pics from our festive weekend (loads of lights!), a super cute holiday movie, and I’m partnering with Nordstrom and ShopStyle to bring you one last look at some of my favorite holiday gift ideas for the ladies and gents in your life!  FRIENDS, there is still time to shop at Nordstrom and get your goodies by Christmas!  PLUS, if you use one of their amazing services like their curbside pickup, you can order it right now in your pajamas and then swing by and it will be ready and waiting on you later today (or this week!).  (They have so many other services too like free alterations and free shipping/returns!)

So, let’s kick off our Merry & Bright Monday with…

…The Christmas Chronicles!!

Oh my goodness!  Have your kids watched this?!  My kids were laughing out loud!  I love me some Kurt Russell (I swear, my mom would leave my dad for him in a heartbeat and I don’t think my dad would blame her one bit), and he is SO CUTE in this movie!  As soon as it was over, my kids wanted to watch it again.  This was super, super, super fun!  I will say that it had the same vibe to me as Hocus Pocus, so if that’s not a movie you let your kids watch, then this might not be your favorite either.  We, however, thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing!

Okay, it’s Monday and if you have a few more gifts to buy this week, I have suggestions for you from a variety of brands including some of my faves like Zella, Halogen and Nordstrom’s Men’s Shop…

…lots of cozy, fun, practical and perfect for Christmas ideas right here!  Just look below, scroll and click!


Okay…ready for something super cute?!  Look at this…

….ahhhhhhh!  We saw Santa Claus last night!!!

They have the cutest little house on our town square and we made reservations to see the big guy yesterday.  Isn’t it cute?!

I thought this Santa did a FANTASTIC job!!  Kensington asked for something we’ve already told her she’s not old enough to have and Santa automatically did a great job by saying “Well, if you’re not quite old enough for that, what else can I bring you?”.  I wanted to kiss him!  My four got their pic and then Sean’s kids had their pic taken too.  Isaiah did the big cry…and we loved it 🙂 .

Family pic when we were all done!  After this, we went to our favorite pizza pub for dinner together.

And for grins, here are a few more fun pics from our festive weekend…

On Thursday, I chaperoned Kensington’s choir field trip!  They sang holiday songs at the mall, we ate lunch together and then, we went ice skating (well, the kids skated and we watched!).  Later that night, they had their big choir concert at school.   I was so proud of all of them!!  It was such a fun day!

Samuel went with us on Thursday night and then spent the night at our house.  On Friday morning, Andrew and I took Madeley and Samuel for a little Christmas shopping and brunch at North Park Center in Dallas.  These two are SO cute together!!!

On Friday night, we had our annual adult-only framily Christmas dinner with the Slaughters.  We always have the BEST time when we’re with Tab and Erika!!  Look at me!  I’m in a Gibson top from their holiday line.  That collection is just SO PERFECT FOR THE HOLIDAYS (New Year’s Eve, anyone?!)!

Now, everyone listen…TOMORROW IS MY VERY FAVORITE POST OF THE ENTIRE YEAR, so come on back.  It’s going to be a great Tuesday 🙂 !

And then on Wednesday, we’re hosting WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY a week early this month!  If you blog, make sure you link up!!  The bonus question is: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE LAST MINUTE GIFT IDEA?

Whew!  A little movie, a lot of fun holiday gift ideas thanks to Nordstrom, Santa and weekend fun…that’s a lot for one post 🙂 .

Love you all!  Have a wonderful Monday!! xo

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Comments

  7. Sheaffer says

    It was our first time to see that Santa and we all loved him! You should have slipped him a $20 on your way out for nailing the whole “not old enough” thing. 🙂

  8. Emily says

    My husband randomly put on the Christmas chronicles one morning and I didn’t think my 3 year old would sit through it. Needless to say, she did and she’s obsessed!! Good things it’s a cute movie considering I’ve watched it repeatedly!!

  9. Erin Port says

    EEEK! We have a few more Christmas movies to squeeze in this week but I don’t mind snuggling up one bit. We had Fr-amily Christmas this weekend too!

  10. Debbie E says

    I can not believe that photo of your entire family and everyone is looking at the camera. All twelve of you. Good job!! Have a very Merry Christmas!

  15. Ariadna Wells says

    My husband and I watched the Christmas Chronicles late Saturday night while watching presents and we love it as well!! We need to watch it with our 6 year-old too, I’m sure she’ll love it. My favorite part was at the end when Mrs. Claus showed up and it was Goldie Hawn!! Great movie!!

  16. Francesca says

    Hi Shay! Random question…I LOVE your Eggnog Pecan Bread recipe and make it every year….but one of my cousins is allergic to pecans. Have you ever made it without the nuts? Is it just as good? Thanks!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I haven’t (because we love nuts!!), but you absolutely can! You can also sub dried cranberries or chocolate chips (or white chocolate!).

  18. Rhonda says

    My family loved The Christmas Chronicles in my house and I have much older kids (junior high and high school). My husband said, “I think this needs to be on the yearly rotation from now on.” For a Christmas movie that is like winning an Oscar in our house. My 13 year old who is very disdainful about everything said it was “pretty good” and gave it ZERO eye rolls!! I l love so much about it, but especially the message and Kurt Russell. He’s just the best.

  19. Laura says

    I loveeee Kurt Russell!! Overboard is one of my family’s all time favorites! Merry Christmas, Shay!!! I love how passionate you are about Christmas, I’m trying to get more into the Christmas spirit before its here!!

  20. Susan Matthews says

    I am dying to know what Kensington asked for that she thought she could skirt her parents by asking Santa!!!

  21. Tami says

    The Santa picture is priceless and the fact that they have reservations is brilliant. Your kiddos are adorable!
    I’m wearing my Sheaffer top tonight for Christmas with the girls. I cannot wait! I love it and picked the red color.

  23. Leanne Gilchrist says

    That settles it, we’re watching The Christmas Chronicles! My girls said the trailer was “cringey” (whatever), but I really want to watch it! And yes, Kurt Russell is AMAZing. Shay, there’s a movie that Kensington would LOVE starring Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning, it’s called Dreamer. It’s a horse movie, and Elizabeth Shue is in it, and I LOVE HER! If you haven’t watched it, you MUST! It’s so so so good! I love the Y necklace up there. That Santa is darling, so happy and peaceful looking! I hope your Week Before Christmas is joyful, peaceful, and full of unexpected sweetness. He is Emmanuel, God with us, right here!

  25. Romi says

    My son was acquainted with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn a few years ago and said they are both very down to earth and lovely as well as being extremely warm and welcoming. He has nothing but high praise for both of them. My husband’s home in Los Angeles was used as the set for Elvis Presley’s childhood home for a movie of the week back in the 1970’s. Kurt Russell portrayed Elvis in that movie. He was very well liked by all in my hubby’s family. It seems your mom has excellent taste in men of good character. ☺️ I’m off to watch the Christmas Chronicles!

  26. Michael says

    The kids look adorable with Santa – what a great photo!

    I have to ask, what do you use to create your collages? Ever since Polyvore left I can’t find anything that works as well.

  27. Lea Culp says

    Well, good to know about that movie, looks like something my older Grans might enjoy while they are here. Looks lots of fun has been going on around your place and that’s what makes great memories. Happy rest of the week!

  28. Kimberly C says

    We watched Christmas Chronicles all together Friday night and loved it — even my husband was laughing. That’s huge for it being a Christmas movie! And then the kids proceeded to watch it a few more times the rest of the weekend ?
    What else is on your family’s “Christmas bucket list” this year?

  29. Wendy Walker says

    Shay, I don’t know where I saw it, but you’re post about the movie die hard…have you ever seen The Goldbergs? It’s a super cute, extremely funny comedy on abc set in the 80s. Episode 10 is about this being a Christmas movie and it’s hilarious! You need to check it out! Also, we got my daughter a laptop when she turned 10. She’s almost 12 now and still doesn’t use it. You are smart to wait!!! Merry Christmas !!!