Three Kids, No Sleep, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree
Straight from our house of happy chaos to you
As we embark headfirst into one of the most anticipated weeks of the year, I wanted to take a quick moment to check in—between diaper changes, toddler meltdowns, and the never-ending quest to find a clean onesie. Life with a newborn and two toddlers feels a little like trying to wrap presents with no tape, but somehow, we’re making it work (and even managing to sneak in a little holiday magic). Consider this my cozy cup of virtual cocoa, from our beautifully chaotic home to yours.
It’s A BOY!
I’ll have whatever Audrey’s having…
On December 5th, we joyfully welcomed a little BOY to our family! We were so surprised - I truly thought we were having another girl up until I heard my husband exclaim, “it’s a BOY!”
Our little bundle, Carmelo Geoffrey, is named after two of the finest men we know: my husband’s late grandfather and my beloved dad. We know our Carmelo will bear their names well. His two older sisters have been smitten from the start (we love hearing them pronounce his name) and love “helping” out with him.
The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of holiday busyness, filled with exhaustion but also incredible beauty. Despite running on fumes, I’m cherishing every fleeting moment and taking things slowly as I recover and soak in this precious time.
Your kind and heartfelt messages over the past few weeks have meant the world to me and I thank you for your genuine thoughtfulness. I’m also so grateful for your patience as I focus on our growing family during this special season. There are so many exciting things coming to The Finishing School Blog in 2025 (one big one in particular), and I can’t wait to share it all with you soon!
See Carmleo’s Instagram debut here:
Warning: This Will Make You Hungry - “Getting Lost with Erin French”
Lots of around the clock feedings = time to catch up on all the shows I have been bookmarking, with Erin French’s new series on Magnolia Network at the tippy top of my list.
Backstory: I first discovered Erin French, a talented chef and entrepreneur, through her show The Lost Kitchen, which is named after her renowned restaurant in Freedom, Maine. From the moment I watched, I was captivated by Erin, her amazing team of women, and the heartfelt stories behind each dish. Oh- and if you want a reservation at Erin’s restaurant, you have to send in a postcard—yes, a postcard! This unique system was created to help save the town’s post office, how amazing is that?
Super Side Note: Film rights for Erin’s bestselling memoir Finding Freedom (linked here) were sold in an 18-way auction and a major motion picture is being developed…. Erin’s book is one of the most remarkable and inspiring stories I have ever read. Highly recommend!
Currently Fueled By: Protein Bars, Coffee & Sugar Cookies
The holidays always do me dirty when it comes to food. I have been working hard to be mindful of my food choices, especially postpartum and although I am far from perfect, these bars have been the perfect way to curb my sweet tooth and take in some much needed extra protein.
FYI- this flavor does taste like a Snickers bar - in my *very* humble opinion.
‘Tis the Season… for Stitching!
I haven’t been able to stitch in my normal rhythm over the past 2 weeks but I have managed to sneak some stitching time in here and there.
The biggest stitching item for me as of late, was the much anticipated Stitch Philly Ornament Exchange. Although I was unable to attend the holiday exchange in person, my ornament finally made its way to my exchange partner, and I received mine from my partner.
Both the giving (to my dear friend Carly) and receiving (from my new friend Debbie aka “Mimzy”) make this exchange so special, mostly because all parties appreciate the time it took to create such a memorable keepsake.
If you are interested in joining an ornament exchange for 2025 this is a fabulous one to start with. Sign ups for 2025 are currently open until 12/31/24 here. I will be sharing all of the details about this project very soon here on the blog!
The Cocktail I Waited 9 Months For…..
And it was more than worth the wait! You know me, I like to keep things “simple yet spectacular” so when LaMarca Prosecco shared this holiday sangria recipe with me, I knew I had it try it ASAP. Add it to your holiday arsenal - I promise you will WOW your guests and yourself.
#SuperSideNote: You can easily transform this cocktail into a mocktail by swapping out the Prosecco and Brandy for your favorite sparkling water or soda (personally, I love Olipop’s Orange Squeeze (available at Target) or Ginger Ale (also at Target) flavors for this recipe.
Until next time…..
P.S. If you are in need of a palette cleanse from the holiday music, I have just the thing
❤️ Thank you for being here and for supporting my readership. This publication may contain affiliate links from which I receive a very small commission - this is what allows me to keep this publication 100% free.
Congrats on baby boy!
Wait I love this and your publication title & format 💕💕💕