Merry Christmas! We hope everyone is able to enjoy some time with their family and friends and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior!

It's the first time in few  years that we are all together in our hometown near Dallas and it's been such a blessing. A few of our traditions on Christmas Eve include attending our church's candlelight service, followed by dinner at our favorite spot, and then drive through the neighborhood with some hot coco in hand, admiring all the decorations and lights.

On Christmas morning we all wear our matching pajamas and open gifts around the tree with the fire on and holiday music blasting in the background.

Typically, we only have one gift to open on Christmas morning. Each year the Santschi family picks a date for the following year and we travel from all over the country to spend a week together! The location is always a secret until Christmas morning when we each open an envelope to reveal the destination that mom & dad chose. This year, that changed though for the first time in awhile because of baby's arrival in 2020. :)

There's some big news to share - my husband and I are expecting our first baby in May 2020!

We tried to keep it private for as long as possible, but my on-air work dresses just weren't hiding the bump any longer so, the secret is out - I'M PREGNANT! We are trading in our silent nights for a bundle of joy to our world! We are so excited to let you in on our secret and the best news of our lives. We are over the moon excited to meet our little miracle from Jesus next year. 

Here's another surprise - we are NOT finding out the baby's sex. I know, some type-A planners just read that and gasped out loud. Ha! But we are so thrilled for the big reveal on delivery day when we discover - pink or blue!

I'm in my second trimester and feeling oh so much better. The first trimester was rough. I was nauseous all day, every day, from every little thing - smells, or even the thought of certain foods, co-worker's cologne and coffee, really anything and everything made me want to throw up. Plus, I was extremely exhausted, however, my weird work schedule of getting up in the middle of the night probably didn't help that. All to say, anyone who interacted with me between August - November, I should probably apologize because I was absolutely not myself. Thank goodness that's over! Now, I'm a whole new woman and it's a million times better. I'm so excited to be in my second trimester and one step closer to meeting our little baby! 

Over the last few months, we shared the news with our family and close friends. Here's a few of their reactions...

Tis' the season! It's that time to get out your holiday shopping list and start preparing for Christmas! Here are a few of my favorite things that every woman is sure to love and will make the perfect holiday present for a special lady in your life, a gal pal, or even your mother or mother-in-law.

It's no secret, I am a wine lover and I drink it often. For any other wino in your life, these glasses are wonderful and especially perfect for the summers on the patio. A four pack only costs $20 and comes in multiple colors so you always know which glass is yours. 

These leggings are so soft and comfy, plus, they are Lululemon dupes. From Lululemon, they go for $98.00, or get them here through Amazon for $29.00. I'm wearing a size small in Army Green Splinter Camo for reference and will be ordering them in multiple colors. I'm actually wearing them right at now while I type this. Ha! 

I have found, the hands down, absolute best and easiest wine opener out there. We received it as a wedding gift and let me tell you, it is a game changer. No more twisting, struggling, or hoping and praying the cork doesn't crumble. It makes opening a bottle of wine effortless and only takes a matter of seconds before it's ready to pour. Did I mention how much I love wine?

When I get home from work, I quickly take off my makeup, throw on comfy clothes and put on these memory foam slippers. My mom came to visit, tried them on, and instantly requested these for Christmas! They are true to size, so husbands, go into your wife's closet and check the size of the shoes she wears most often. The good news, they're available on Amazon so if you do order the wrong size, you can easily exchange them too. 

I have two all-time favorite candles that are always in my house. At least one is consistently lit, while another is stocked and ready to go in the cabinet when that one burns out. The Capri Blue Volcano and Bath & Body Works Cashmere - they smell so wonderful and are both available on Amazon. 

These are so gorgeous but also simple and will satisfy any woman's taste and style. I wear these Missy Lane Jewelry earrings on-air often and always receive compliments on them. They are lightweight and my go-to whenever I'm needing minimal jewelry. They're subtle, simple and can be worn two ways (spike or kite shaped). I actually have a pair in both silver and gold - they go with every outfit and are very affordable.

This would be such a thoughtful gift for couples. We received this as a marriage gift and have loved it, even reread it on occasion. Try the Sacred Marriage book or the Devotions for a Sacred Marriage - they both explore how God can lead you through your marriage, provide insights to build your relationship and a way to connect and grow closer to your spouse. 

I used to work for Orca and I've sold the family on these tumblers! The entire family uses these daily. They keep your drink hot or cold for hours and the ice never melts. Just about a year ago, on-air, we did a test in the dead of winter to see which mug would keep boiling water hot the longest. Six different coffee mugs, tumblers, and cups were in the competition. The Orca won, by far, keeping the water hot all morning long outside in the snow. My husband and I also use these regularly and everyone knows we bring our own cups to the party. Ha!