ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge

The Best Day Ever: Thanksgiving Memories to Cherish for a Lifetime & Link Up On the Edge #174

December 6, 2019 / 78 Comments
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge

Thanksgiving this year might go down in the history of me as one of the most memorable ones ever. I will cherish it forever and I do so hope that all other holidays can measure up. It’s funny because as my sister was planning the menu and the guest list and our activities for four days spent together, she gave me this warning…”I am afraid that my expectations for Thanksgiving this year are of Hallmark caliber.” And we all know that when expectations are set too high, we are usually let down…even if it is just a little. This time, however, I think our expectations were exceeded. And that is a beautiful thing. A really beautiful thing. Because we both needed it.

I rarely spend holidays with my sister due to the fact that we live nearly 300 miles apart. When we do venture to Pennsylvania, we always stay at my mother-in-law’s house which is about an hour’s drive from my sister’s house. If we travel for the holidays, we do make a point to visit my sister, but generally only for a few hours because up until this year she was unable to provide us with overnight accommodations. So we would visit for a bit and then get back on the road to Gramma’s house to get the kids to bed on time.

But this year was a bit different. For many reasons. One being that my younger nephew recently moved out of his bedroom into the basement apartment with his very lovely girlfriend whom I finally got to meet. So my sister did a bedroom makeover just for us to have a place to stay when we visit and not have to rush out before bedtime. The second reason was that this holiday season is a very emotional one for my sister. Every year, she fills her home with her kids and grandkids and her closest friends. When it comes to my family, it really is just my sister and me. Both parents passed away a really long time ago and all other family connections have faded away. Sadly, since last Thanksgiving, three of her closest friends who were regular guests at all of her holiday tables have passed away. And as the first holidays without your loved ones roll around, it is a very trying time. More than anything, my big sister wanted her little sister present for the holidays. And this little sister wanted to be there for her. So while her expectations were Hallmark-level, mine were, too. Although we did only watch one Hallmark movie in the four days that I was at her house.

ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge

We traveled to her house on Tuesday afternoon when the kids got home from school, arriving just after 8:00 p.m. This is generally the kids’ bedtime, but they were antsy from 5 1/2 hours in the car and they hadn’t seen their cousin, Lilah, in quite some time. Lilah (she is almost 10) is my nephew’s oldest daughter and she is just 15 months older than Archie. The two have been the closest of friends since birth and they literally pick right up where they left off from the last time they were together. I love to see that kind of friendship among little people. It warms my heart. Lilah stayed at her grandmother’s (my sister’s) house the entire time we were there, refusing to go home because Archie and Ralphie were there. Every night was a grand sleepover party for these three kids. They were inseparable for four straight days.

Lilah and me
These three kids!

Thanksgiving Day rolled around and my sister insisted that everyone wear ugly Christmas sweaters or tops and we all obliged. It made for quite a festive showing. Sadly, we did not take one single group photo. But that’s okay because the memories are still ingrained in my heart even without photographic evidence…proof that living in the moment is sometimes much more powerful than worrying about capturing things on camera.

ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge
ugly Christmas sweater, boyfriend jeans, plaid blanket scarf, fashion over 40, holiday style, Shelbee on the Edge

My great-niece Cece (she is almost 4) is a little spitfire and she and Ralphie gave each other a run for their money. There was one point when Jeff scolded Cece for doing something she wasn’t supposed to and she stood face to face with him, hands on hips, and emphatically stated, “I can do whatever I want.” To which Ralph replied, “Oh really? If you can do whatever you want, why don’t you say the F word. Go ahead. I dare you.” Oy. What am I going to do with these little ones?

But then Cece had this moment where she completely redeemed herself. I was sitting on the couch, just sort of taking it all in, appreciating how wonderful this time was and what a crazy, weird, insanely unique, and incredibly fun and loving family I have. In my head, these words came to mind, “This is the best day ever.” Right in that moment, Cece climbed up on my lap, took my face between her tiny hands, looked me directly in the eyes, and said, “Aunt Mimi, this is the best day ever.” Well, that was it. I was reduced to a puddle of tears as I tried to get the words out of my mouth, “Yes, it is, kiddo. It really, really is.”

Aunt Mimi with Cece

And then there is Lou (1 1/2 years old), my nephew’s youngest child. This was the first time I was meeting this redheaded darling. He reminds me of Merrida’s triplet brothers in Brave. Gosh, he is a cutie. A little bashful at first, but he warmed up to me some and spent some time just sitting on my lap, taking it all in with me.

Little Lou and me

I also got to hang out with my nephews and their significant others and you know what? They are really freaking cool humans. I have known my older nephew’s wife since she was 15. I am in awe of what an amazing woman she has become. She was a pretty fantastic teenager, too. I always connected with her. But as I watched her in full-fledged adulthood, managing her three little ones while she helped with food preparations, I was so impressed with her.

My younger nephew Alex. This guy is a helluva cool guy. I would totally be friends with him. Oh wait. I guess I am!
Ralphie using his culinary skills. He made the homemade rolls for Thanksgiving dinner.
Ralphie enjoying bacon for breakfast in his bacon jammies.
The Thanksgiving appetizers.
My lobster.
Photobombed by Archie.
Photobombed by Ralphie.

Gosh, I am so blessed. And as I looked around at this home filled with so much love, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for these blessings. So while I don’t have a ton of photos to share from the day, I have a lifetime’s worth of memories to cherish. And even though it was sadness that brought us to my sister’s house on Thanksgiving this year, it was quite literally the happiest holiday I have had in a really long time.

How have your holidays been so far? Are you able to keep some perspective to appreciate the small blessings hiding within the grand chaos of this time of year?

And now your featured favorites from last week.

Reader Favorite (Most Clicked)

Cristina of Memories of the Pacific shared a very inspiring post, 30 Things to Do in Your Thirties. There are so many great things on her list. Some I have done, others I probably should even though my thirties are long gone. But that’s okay. It’s never to late to embrace life and live in every moment!

floral dress, camel coat, Memories of the Pacific
Cristina of Memories of the Pacific

My Favorite Fashion Post

Ruth of Vogue Faux Real featured her recreation of a super high end animal print outfit on a budget in her post, Simple But Chic-What I’ll Wear to the Christmas Bazaar. And I have to say, I do much prefer Ruth’s interpretation over the original! How sassy is her snakeskin printed turtleneck?!

snakeskin top, block heel boots, Vogue Faux Real
Ruth of Vogue Faux Real

My Favorite Non-Fashion Post

Robin of Hello, I’m 60ish shared her post, At Home with Robin: My Favorite Flocked Christmas Tree from the King of Christmas. I literally gasped in delight when I saw how beautifully Robin has decorated her trees. They are absolutely breathtaking. Like straight out of a Dickens novel. Don’t believe me? Go look at the photos!

Christmas tree, Hello I’m 60ish
Robin of Hello, I’m 60ish

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Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

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Outfit Details: Sweater and Beret-Charlotte Russe (Old) / Shirt-Old Navy (currently on sale for $14.00) / Jeans-Torrid (Old) / Scarf-Kohl’s (Old) / Boots-PopSugar (Old) / Earrings-c/o Anjolee

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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