Christmas with a little Southern Charm!

We were beyond thrilled this year because this was a monumental occasion for Mike and I this Christmas.  This was the first time, in 7 years of celebrating the season together - the first Christmas where both the Mobley & DuPont families were in the same place....celebrating together. This was the first year that Mike and I didn't have to buy TWO flights and wake up early on Christmas morning to travel.  This was the first year we were able to have Christmas Eve with both sets of our parents.

We're so lucky that Mike's parents were generous enough to fly to Texas the few days leading up to Christmas so that we could all be together.  It's such a blessing that we were able to have that this year - and we're even more grateful that when our parents are all together - it just feels right.  It works, and it's absolutely wonderful.  Even though they had to leave on Christmas morning, we felt so so thankful to have the Mobleys in Texas for as long as we did.

Over the break, we had a few traditions that were blended from both families - and we had a few new adventures that will surely become part of our future holiday seasons in Texas.  True to my format, I'm choosing to share with you a few of the highlights below!

1.  The most merry carriage ride you've ever seen - Because we are in Texas, we may not have been dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh, but we had quite a festive outing with everyone.  My mom organized a carriage ride to take the 8 of us through Highland Park to take in all the spectacular Christmas lights!  So we packed up all of our cozy blankets, we filled up 6 flasks with belly-warming whisky, and we donned our gay apparel for a chilly ride in Dallas.  The carriage played some carols while the snow white horses trotted through the streets.  We were all mesmerized by the beauty and advancements in exterior illumination as we snuggled up together.  I've never done the carriage ride before, but it was spectacular & a very festive family activity to keep us all in the spirit.






2.  Lobster Dinner for 8 - It's become a DuPont tradition to cook lobsters for dinner on Christmas Eve and we couldn't wait to share the tradition with Mike's parents.  My dad flies the lobsters in straight from Maine, and they come out at the DFW baggage claim the day we cook them!  I'm not sure if it was the company, or the lobsters themselves, but this year - our crustaceaus meal was the best ever.  And we blended a Mobley tradition into our meal when Mike's parents brought out the party crackers so we could all wear our matching paper crowns!

3.  Family gift exchange - The Christmas tree at my parent's house had more presents under it than any other Christmas we've ever had.  My parents had all of their presents carefully wrapped, Mike & I had most of our gifts shipped to wrap in Texas, Mike's parents brought all of their gifts and stockings to Texas, and when it came time to open everything on Christmas eve, Garrett & Jenny brought a carload of goodies.  It was beautiful.  When we exchanged most of the gifts on Christmas Eve night (before both the Mobleys & Garrett & Jenny had to leave Texas), there was wrapping paper covering what seemed like every inch of the floor, there were ribbons found behind the couch cushions and the dogs were running around with foil bows in their mouths. We all paraded around the family room modeling our new treats and hugging each other for the thought and love that went into each and every gift we exchanged.  I haven't had a Christmas that felt this crazy since my brother and I were just little kids!

4.  Post Christmas Mav's Game - Because it was the day after Christmas, and the seats were open, we were so lucky to be given tickets to the Maverick's game against the Lakers at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas!  Not only was the game a treat, but the seats were fantastic!  We got to sit in a box, which means unlimited access to food AND drinks...for the whole game!  Not to mention, we had the greatest view in the arena!  The days immediately following Christmas can be a little sad because it's all over - but we kept the energy up with a little b-ball.

Mike & I spent a little bit more time in Texas after we lost a few family members on Christmas morning. We got a some extra time for extra snuggles on the couch with the pups, a few extra movies on Netflix, a couple more post-Christmas drinks, and 3 more days of much needed rest & relaxation. We were definitely missing two very special people who could have made our family fusion complete - and that was Mike's sister Jennifer & her husband Bill.  They were missed terribly in Texas, and would have been the perfect addition to our extremely festive Mobley/DuPont Southern Christmas.

We hope that you all had a blessed and enjoyable holiday with your families.  This was such a special year that went by way to quickly, but the season definitely peaked with us all together in Dallas.  I'm not sure where we'll all be next year, or who's turn it will be to host - but this year was one for the books!  Merry Christmas to you all with lots of love from the Mobleys!

Christmas is a time for family....

Every year since we've lived in New York, we've made it a tradition to join my Connecticut family for a nice holiday brunch in Connecticut with our family.  Sometimes there are close to 20 of us at the table, sometimes we show up with just 10 or so - but it's just a part of our holiday season that's become a mandatory.

We haven't been able to spend a Christmas with our Connecticut family since we've moved here - so this IS our Christmas in Connecticut.  And this year was extra special because as we snacked on Bloody Marys and plates over flowing with our brunch food selections, it was snowing!  The view we had from our family brunch was that of delicately falling snowflakes kissing the bare birch trees and perfectly manicured golf course outside the window. What a special sight to see while sitting among your favorite people.

Because we left for Texas the next morning, Mike and I turned back to head to New York right after brunch, but the day trip was the perfect seal to top off our time on the East Coast for Christmas.  We were unable to dedicate too much time to complete some of the other holiday traditions Mike & I typically allocate time for in the city.  We weren't able to get out to the Rockefeller tree this year, and we opted to see Sting in the Last Ship instead of a holiday spectacular with the Rockettes.  And this year we had the pleasure of attending the fantastic 50th birthday of a great friend instead of our dedicated Christmas date night.   But we never sacrifice our family time in Connecticut, even if it's just for the day, because it just completes the season.

We're headed out to Dallas to spend Christmas with our families out there & we can't wait to share the details of our 2nd Texas Christmas.

A Christmas Toast to Friendship

We opted not to have our big Christmas blowout party this year.  With Thanksgiving falling to late in November, and with the house hunt consuming our weekends - we couldn't pull it together this year.  And that was totally fine with us.  But we couldn't kick off the season without SOME KIND of celebration with our friends.

During Christmas, we are all inundated with business outings and pressures that come along with closing the year out - so the season tends to just pass us by unless you take a time out - preferably with your favorite friends.  So instead of the big partay chez Mobley, we had just 7 of our close friends over to have the opposite of a party - we just had a little mini cocktail celebration to kick off the season.  It was a time to raise a glass to another fantastic year of friendship.  A pause to hug and sing a Christmas carol with some of the people who have been the heart and soul of our New York family unit.

As they have so many years before, the boys ventured onto the patio for cigar time, we gathered around the kitchen table to catch up on the latest news in everyone's lives, Mike made his famously lethal eggnog, and we finally closed our apartment doors during the wee hours of the morning the next day.

Thank you to those who were able to stop by on such short notice.  Regardless of the smaller scale of attendees this year, it was still the most festive night of our entire New York Christmas season.  Once we have a house next year, I assure you friends, the Mobleys will return to our large scale Christmas bash!  I'm already starting the planning for 2015!

Texas Thanksgiving!

Since my parents bought their new home in Texas, their relaxing retreat has become the new norm at Thanksgiving for Mike & I the past few years...and we love it!  We headed down South for Thanksgiving the Wednesday before and the three days we were in Texas felt like they flew by much too quickly.  The weekend was full of some of the typical traditions that surround the family during the holidays.  These include dad's turkey on the Weber (the best way to cook a turkey in my opinion!), the boys enjoying some post dinner festive pipes, a little turkey day football (the Bears were playing this year....and proceeded to embarrass the entire family with their suckiness), some family games, and snuggles on the couch...with all of us...including all three dogs!

Thanksgiving was later in the month this year - which was a little bit of a bummer, because it's one of my favorite days of the year.  But even though it came and went so quickly, I still love my dedicated post to take time to reflect on the things I'm most grateful for this year.

All my siblings  - I grew up with one brother, and my family has officially grown by a few siblings - including my newest sister Jenny who just became a DuPont this year.  I'm so blessed to have both sets of brothers & sisters who are some of the greatest friends we could have.  We got to see Garrett & Jenny in Texas of course, but we miss Jennifer & Bill in San Francisco terribly - especially during the holidays!  We're so very grateful for you all, and everything you all bring to enriching our lives. I only wish we all lived closer!  Who wants in on a DuPont/Mobley compound!? :P

Health & Happiness - Another year has come around where we are so thankful for the health and happiness of each and every one of our family members.  We celebrated some major milestone birthdays this year.  My father celebrated a golden birthday turning 57 (and he was BORN in '57), Mike's father celebrated his 80th birthday, I celebrated my 30th, and my grandmother turned 80 this year as well.  As we add these candles to our birthday cakes, and as we watch another fantastic year come to a close, I couldn't be more grateful that we all have our health - one of life's greatest blessings.  

The world's most supportive parents - I just adore all four of them.  We have two sets of parents - with 32 and 44 years of marriage together.  They are not only fantastic examples for a loving marriage, but they are our greatest support system, they are our best friends, and they are so proud of us - for everything we do.  We've had a crazy year with pressures from work, our world travels, and our new house hunt - and we can't wait until we have a home that can host them so that we can see them more! They are always there for us when we need advice, guidance, or just a buddy to have a pint or a pipe with us (well the pipe more for Mike!). The four of them are all different in their own way, and I think that when we eventually have a little one, we have four of the greatest role models on the planet.  

My Husband - I just adore him too...I REALLY, really do.  He is the world's most patient man.  He's understanding and doesn't say a peep when I'm jetting off what seems like every other week for work commitments, he makes every accommodation for me when I'm working late, he drops off my dry cleaning (that's an expensive chore!), and he is the best fur daddy to Winston.  He puts everything he has into planning our dream vacations every single year - and because of him, we've been able to go on a "trip of a lifetime" every year.  I'm so grateful every single day for him, the greatest gift I've ever received.

We returned to New York to continue the holiday season, and this time, it was a little bit easier to leave our loved ones behind in Texas, but only because we knew we'd see everyone three weeks later for Christmas!  I can't believe it's over already!  The Mobleys hope you all enjoyed a blessed and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday!

Here we go a huntin'

Alright folks - this is a big one.  After what will be five years in New York City - the Mobleys are ready for a little more space...not like an extra bedroom & moving up to the Upper West Side space though - like YARD space, like a GUEST ROOM space....like HOUSE SPACE!  Yes, we're starting our hunt for our first house!  We're venturing away from the concrete jungle next year to the gorgeous county of Westchester to find our perfect home.

Before starting our house hunt, we had to discuss a few things in order to establish some priorities.  Would our house be a great deal on a fixer upper, or was it more important to be in move-in condition?  Did we want a festive hobbit-y Tudor home - so characteristic of Westchester, or the comfort and cozy retreat of a colonial?  Is it more important to renovate a kitchen or bathroom?  And if a house is perfect, but doesn't have an impressive backyard, do we count it out?  But what about a basement - do we care about having a finished basement?  These were all choices that we had to make before even selecting the homes we wanted to tour with our broker.

After what seemed like endless searches online, we have decided on Bronxville, New York as the future home of the Mobley family.  There were a few things that factored into this decision.  First was the proximity to the city.  Bronxville is a mere 28 - 32 minutes on the train to the city! That's closer than some commutes of my friends IN THE CITY!  Since we both work in Manhattan, and probably always will, at least in the foreseeable future, we didn't want to move somewhere that would mean we spent 2+ hours/day on a train.  That's just not fun.  The second thing we wanted from our future home was a village feel - a place that feels like a real town, not just a collection of neighborhoods.  Bronxville has the most adorable town that you ever did see.  There are still cobblestone streets in some of the older roads, the church is a stone masterpiece, and the streets are lined with vintage gas lamps (whether or not they still USE the gas lamps vs. electricity is still to be seen, but they are vintage, nonetheless).  And finally, it has to be said - we did think about schools.  We don't want to move to a town with a bunch of derelicts!  We wanted the option of great school for the eventual little WeeMobs that we'll have running around one day.  The first time we drove through Bronxville, and I saw the school...it was comparable to Hogwarts...well if Hogwarts was staged somewhere in New England...instead of REAL England.

So needless to say, this is an extremely exciting and potentially stressful or emotional time for us, Trulia has been an absolute lifesaver, and we are in love with the broker we found at Houlihan Lawrence.  And we know that at the end of this, we'll have a home! We can paint walls without having to worry about losing a security deposit!  We can build a real fire instead of having an electric space heater.  We can park our car in the garage instead of down the street for $350/month.  Wish us luck as we take on this journey and we can't wait to keep you all updated on the progress!

A return to Mike's Motherland

After visiting Scotland last year, and after the special time we spent together - Mike and I knew that we couldn't return without Bob Mobley.  Everything about Scotland was so amazing, from the city time we spent in Edinburgh, to the gorgeous autumnal weather we had in the Highlands - we couldn't wait to take Bob & Melinda back to some of the spots we fell absolutely in LOVE with during our trip last year.

As I mentioned during my last post, we ventured to Scotland via train - and even though we got the lay of the land during our trip LAST November, we made sure to keep some surprises for ourselves & for Bob & Melinda when we arrived to one of our favorite places on the planet.  There were a few events that never disappoint - which I'm sharing with all of you here!

1.  Another visit to Monteith's:  One of our favorite restaurants in Edinburgh was a lovely little nook called Monteith's.  As I mentioned to you last year, the establishment is pretty much as Scottish as you can get, with tartan covered booths, bar chairs draped in lambswool, and antlers adorning the walls everywhere you turn.  We have been dreaming about Monteith's since we knew we were going back to Edinburgh, and couldn't wait to walk through those twinkling arches with Mike's parents to share with them the little treasure we discovered back in 2013.

2.  A trip to Aberfeldy:  I owe my affinity for scotch to one man, and one man only...and that is Bob Mobley.  And when he found out I was working with Dewar's, he was the MOST excited, particularly because he's been a loyal Dewar's consumer since he could remember!  So it was only fitting that we treated Mr. Mobley for his 80th birthday with a little VIP treatment at the Dewar's distillery in Aberfeldy.  I had received the employee perks tour last year, but this was different - this was a unique experience set up only for our very own birthday boy.  We toured the distillery, but when the tour was complete, the four of us got to stay behind in the scotch storage room, for a little extra TLC.  Bob got to taste some unfiltered 21 year old scotch directly from the barrel!  But we didn't leave empty handed - we walked away with two bottles of our very own 1994 Aberfeldy Single Malt....bottled and sealed by the birthday boy himself!  A very special treatment for a very special man.  We all scribbled some private messages on our bottles before leaving the distillery & we'll be holding on to this special liquid for a VERY special occasion.

3.  Our stay at the Balmoral Hotel: We adored the Balmoral in Edinburgh - but perhaps the best part of the entire hotel is the whisky bar that boasts over 497 different types of scotch - a whisky lover's dream.  This was perfect for us, but even MORE perfect for our guest of honor.  The Balmoral was the ideal location to the Royal Mile, the train station, and all of our needs while in the beautiful city of Edinburgh.  And if we were lucky enough to catch the light just right - our room had a gorgeous view of the Edinburgh Castle, that caught the pink rays of the autumn sunset every night...the best view in the entire hotel!

4.  Stopping by the ol' Menzies Castle:  It wouldn't be a trip to Aberfeldy without a stop at the Menzies castle!  Last year, we caught the castle on the first day it closed for the season.  This year, we were a bit later into November, and we didn't have the same luck, but we WERE with a real Menzies herself with Mike's mom, so it was worth hopping out of the car to take a few pictures and admire the enormity of the estate with OUR little clan matriarch.

Despite a few repeated attractions, there were a few things we left to discover for this trip, and we had more time to do a few things much differently this time around.




1. A hike to Arthur's seat:  I'm not sure if the weather was too cold, or if we were a little too hungover during the time we were in Ediburgh, but one of the most amazing views in all of the UK is the hike to Arthur's Seat.  A steep, lush hill that promises a 360 degree view of all of Edinburgh once you get to the top.  We definitely didn't have the appropriate footwear, and we we reached the top in a bit of a cold sweat, but it was worth it, and it was absolutely magnificent.  From up on that hill, you could see the sooty, pointed rooftops of a medieval Edinburgh, the vast grounds of the castle and Holyrood, and the sparkling blue of the North Sea.  The trek in my three inch booties, was completely worth it - and they held up pretty well in the slippery slopes of the Scottish hillside.

2.  A quiet stay in the Highlands: One thing that we really wanted to accomplish during this visit to Scotland, was an extended stay in the Highlands.  Some time in a quintessential Highland town, where we can snack on authentic pub food, cuddle by a fireplace, and huddle up in a cobblestone cottage.  So we selected Kenmore as our Highland destination - as it was just a 15 minute ride from Aberfeldy.  Kenmore was an adorable town on a vast loch surrounded by one of the most well maintained golf courses I've ever seen.  And the Kenmore hotel claims to be one of the oldest Inns in all of Scotland! We didn't have much on our agenda when arriving in Kenmore, but we did have quite a goody bag after leaving Dewar's - and I'll just say the few bottles we purchased from the gift shop didn't make the trip back with us!

3.  The Taymouth Castle: Since the foliage in the Highlands is some of the most colorful I've ever seen in the autumn, Mike and I decided to take a walk through the grounds around the cottage.  On that walk, we saw trees that looked like they were out of some enchanted fairy tale, barrack ruins from former castle grounds, and a CASTLE! A massive, expansive CASTLE!  It's so typical Scotland to have a castle nestled among a golf course in a tiny little town like Kenmore.  Another little hike that payed off with some awe-inspiring landscapes!

And so this ends our UK tour with the Mobleys, an unforgettable celebration of a wonderful man who is 80 years young.   We always wish we had more time with all of our family, but it's even more special to have these quality memories that mean so much to us.  I'm not sure when we'll be heading back to the UK, but our trip with Mike's parents was a unique one that we'll cherish forever, and one that can never be duplicated.  Happy Birthday to the best father and father-in-law a girl could ever ask for, we love you beyond words!