Meet the Shaneyfelts

Archives for December 2017

Our Evening at the Opryland Hotel

Since Dustin and I have started dating, almost every Christmas season we’ve driven the 1.5-2 hour drive to Nashville to look at the lights at the Opryland Hotel.  This year we started at the Opry Mills Mall for lunch–big mistake…way too crowded–and then walked over to the hotel to look at all the lights.

They had changed a few things up since we had last been two years ago so it was nice seeing new things.

 You know there are always lots of selfies when it’s just y’all two.

As we were looking at the Directory in the front lobby, a couple approached us about tickets to the dinner theater show that started in 15 minutes.  They had a toddler and decided they didn’t want to take her into the show, so they gave us their tickets….GAVE us their tickets!  I called my mom to tell her and she looked up the price of the tickets–$80 each!  We could not believe it, and we are so grateful to the couple who so generously gave us their dinner tickets!


 Inside the show room


We were the last two at our table and the server immediately brought us out our first course…mushroom soup with a pastry baked on top.  I was too in shock to take a picture because we still couldn’t believe our luck!


 The main course–it was so good!  


 The dessert course was really good, too!

Diamond Rio was the performer.  Even though I’m not a country fan (and Dustin is–he was in heaven!), it was a good show!  They opened with some of their hits and then played Christmas songs the rest of the show.


 The outside lights are always my favorite, but they weren’t as big this year because the hotel is adding on a water hotel.


Linking up with Biana

Favorite Meaningful Holiday Memories

I cannot believe today is the last day of The Most Wonderful Time of the Year link up!  Have y’all enjoyed this link up as much as we have?  Thank you to everyone who participated!  We are so very grateful!

Today’s topic is near and dear to both mine and Victoria’s hearts.  Yes, it’s so fun to decorate your house for Christmas and buy gifts and make gingerbread houses and all of that stuff–but that’s not what Christmas is really about.  What Christmas is really about is our need for a Savior and the fact that God sent us that Savior–His Son.  That’s what Christmas is about.

So how do I make sure that our family doesn’t lose focus on the real reason for Christmas?

I always do an Advent study each Advent season.  In the past I’ve done John Piper’s free studies, but lately I’ve been purchasing the She Reads Truth studies to do on my phone.  This year Dustin bought the one from He Reads Truth and we’ve been discussing them each night.  


Last year I bought my mom Ann Voskamp’s The Greatest Gift and she said she’s really enjoyed it.

Another great tradition that my family has done is reading the story of Jesus’s birth in Luke 2.  This was always done Christmas Eve night with my dad’s side of the family before anyone was allowed to open Christmas presents.  I love that tradition so much because it was always something I looked forward to as a child.

What are some meaningful traditions you have in your family?

Favorite Holiday Party Recipe

There’s nothing better than a good holiday party.  I love love LOVE the thought that goes into planning and executing a party, the sweet time with friends or family, and the food!  Whether you’re throwing a finger foods bash or providing an entire sit down dinner, the food is important.

In the South, we communicate our love with food.  If a family member dies, we bring you food.  Are you sick?  We’re bringing you food.  Are you a guest in our home?  We’re offering you lots of food until you eat something. 😂  

I believe that creating a menu for your holiday party is the same–you’re communicating your love through the food you serve at your holiday party.

Below, I’m listing a few of my favorite go-to recipes for holiday parties, but I really lack in this area.  I think because there are so many options that I have a hard time deciding what to bring or serve.  This is why I cannot wait to read everyone’s posts and bookmark some really good recipes to make later this month!

I’ve made these for a few different functions and every time I do, I always get TONS of compliments and am asked for the recipe.  It’s the easiest thing to make (no, really, it is) and only requires 4 ingredients…that’s it.  SO SIMPLE!


I have a brunch to attend next week and will be making these sausage pinwheels.  They are a really easy finger food and can be made healthier with substitutions–reduced fat crescent rolls, turkey sausage, reduced fat cream cheese.  I always make these the night before and put them in the fridge overnight.  Then I slice the morning of and bake.


This is a Mix and Match Mama recipe.  I LOVE making Shay’s bars and this one might be my favorite!  It tastes just like a cinnamon roll!!  I’ve made homemade cream cheese icing before, used store-bought cream cheese icing before, and have even made a glaze for the top.  They all taste good and good luck stopping after one piece haha!



Now it’s your turn!  Link up with Shelly, our guest cohost, and I today to share your favorite holiday party recipes!  
**Victoria will not be able to link up today or tomorrow.  We will miss her!