holiday magic in a bottle (and a mug)

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it’s official. cozy season has begun in the state of texas and the country.

this weekend was filled with incredible memories. from doing my first market not to long ago, to completing two, back to back in different cities. (still recovering from how tired i am, but the gratitude continues to overpower).

to begin, friday was the monster mash fall festival at taylor creek elementary. i met so many wonderful people and had a blast. i was still working out a few kinks with my processing system, yet everyone was so kind and understanding. we also discovered some new local businesses to support and that’s what it’s all about! (it’s not a market if you don’t spend money, right?!)

friday was a late night for my husband and i. we got to bed around 2 am and had to be on the road by 5 am to ensure we made it to dallas by 8 am. saturday was a rough start as we woke up at 5 because our alarm was on the lowest level possible apparently. (thank the lord we still made it & we were able to stop for none other than scooters coffee.) we determined we need a new vendor setup because carrying the totes are not it. y’all know the slogan, work smarter, not harder. saturday’s market was the first one of it’s kind for the businesses involved and i am so pleased that it was a hit! there were so many incredible vendors and i will share some of them soon. with these two markets, not to mention, our NEW seasonal and holiday scents debuted. christmas morning, candy cane and peppermint latte smell right in all the right places. our coziness in a mug is enjoying it’s time to shine! our four ingredient hot cocoa is taking the spotlight. it’s creamy, the perfect chocolaty mixture to keep stocked for those nights with friends and family.

when we got back to town, we headed to our animals and culled the rest of our chickens. we made beautiful broth and oakley is stocked on food for awhile! we only have two chickens now. one of our og black australorp hens, and our heritage french black copper maran rooster. a true sweetheart. we have plans to add more chickens, but not until we find our piece of land. we also prepped each area for the cold front that was heading our way. we lined part of the barn with our hemp bedding for the ducks and the goats got some straw in their little shelters. so far, everything is working great!

sunday, we had a family fun day! we went back to western belle farms for the last weekend of the season. we will definitely be back next season. that place is a blast and their apple cider donuts were a hit! we also started setting up our christmas decorations and it has been so exciting! there is nothing like christmas spirit, when it’s not focused on presents, but the presence of those you love most; the little things you do every day with them. like sipping hot cocoa while watching the grinch, baking your favorite cookies or pies and destroying your kitchen with flour, or the house being lived in because you prioritize quality time with the family. the season of giving for the sake of giving and expecting nothing in return.

overall, i am extremely proud of myself for going out of my comfort zone and being a trooper. i am pleased to say, i am going to be doing a lot more markets! i loved meeting yall in person and getting to converse. now bare with me, because i suddenly forget everything sometimes when i get asked questions. my mind literally just goes blank or i fail to get it out the way i want. im a writer, not a public speaker. LOL. this weekend was just filled with all the love and some beautiful core memories with my family.

nonetheless, i’m excited for what’s to come & i’d love for you to come meet me at a market one day! (if you know any, let me know!) it goes without saying, happy holiday season!