the helgesons

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I'm a hopeless romantic who finds great joy in creating and capturing connection and beauty wherever I go.

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Whose ready for a getaway?? All this dreary weather and snow has me craving sunny days with my hubs, how about you?? If you haven’t seen my stories yet, head in there and share we’d and why you’d like to do! I’m planning something special for you as a couple!!!!! 💌🍾💃🏼

Did I tell you owning a tree farm is one of my dreams??
We have been going to the tree farm since the year my Mother was pregnant with muah. We have a collection of pewter ornaments from almost every year, I’m still bitter about that one year they didn’t have one! I’m pointing fingers at you Pea Ridge!
When we moved to Wisconsin a few years back we thought we’d never find a place we loved just as much and felt like home like Pea Ridge did. I grew up there. Swinging across the creek on the rope swing, getting yelled at for playing in the half frozen stream because we’d fall and get frost bitten. Guess what?! I never fell and I never got frostbite. Yes, I’m sticking my tongue out at my Aunt right now! We had so much fun at the tree farm. My cousin and I were just saying how some of the most fun we had with our cousins as kids was at that farm. Hanging out with family can truly be some of the most unforgettable moments in life.
From our family to yours this jolliest of days!! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful and joyous time with your family this holiday! And keep the change you filthy animals 🤣😂 I hope your house doesn’t look like a tornado like mine this morning! What’s the one present that you received that stands out above the rest? I can’t wait to hear why you got!

Hey hey! Christmas Eve is upon us! I don’t know about you but I’m in the spirit to play a game. How about 2 truths and a lie?? Games are a tradition on Christmas Eve in our family and I’m so ready to play tonight. For now I’m getting ready by collecting candies to decorate our gingerbread houses, playing Santa Claus to our clients, wrapping last minute gifts, and making the marzipan 🐷 for the risgrøt for tonight’s festivities. Meanwhile, the boys are playing LEGO Harry Potter on the Wii. So will you play with me?? So everyone knows how to play right? I’ll give you three statements and you tell me which one is a lie. Okay, here we go!

1) On Christmas Eve when I was small my parents would wrap my presents while I was in bed in their room. My Dad would flash a red light into the window pretending to be Rudolph (I bought it) and then make hoof prints, sleigh tracks, and half eaten celery in the snow for me to find on Christmas morning.
2) We pop some corn, fill our tartan thermos’ with apple cider and hot cocoa, and drive around for hours looking at holiday lights. We still have our list from St. Louis and have maps for particular areas of town. We go hard for light displays folks!! 3) Every year we sing carols around the tree together while wrapping up our final gifts to family. Our favorite songs are “O Holy Night,” “Jingle Bells,” and I always show off with being one of the few to know all the words to “Carol of the Bells!” So tell me, which one do you think is bogus?? And if you’re feeling in the spirit, comment with yours below and let me guess.
Merry Christmas Eve to all and to all a goodnight! 🎄🎅🏼🤶🏼🍄🦌🛷❄️⛄️⭐️🔔

Is it weird that my cold hating husband is upset that there’s not more snow on the ground. He complains every time it snows, yet is sad we’re not having a white Christmas 😂. I hope next year is less complicated than my husbands current mood. 🤣 The holiday week has begun, why last minute details are you scrambling to get done?
#christmaseveeve

I stuck my toes in the fireplace!! Not quite, but I sure felt like doing exactly that last night as my purple little toesies just couldn’t get warm until I put my new @alpacatoapparel blue stockings on and slide under about 10 crocheted afghans of once belonged to my Grandma.
Couples who brave 40° and below without showing evidence of the frigid air surrounding them. Their love is strong and it’s warming them both as it is our hearts in this moment...these are #ellextroycouples.
Gown | @lulusweddings @lulus
Makeup | @patriciadufek
Hair | @britsalon325
Floral | @motthanna
Photography team | @ellehelgeson @troyhelgeson @ellextroyphotography
Venue | Kewaunee Marina & Beach

No more running along beaches for the rest of this year. I mean unless you want to do it in the snow. Which I’m completely here for if your inspired to do so! The majority thinks I’m crazy when it comes to my love for being outdoors in the snow. This is my thrive season. My get out and hike, camp, and run in the snow season. I’m not a total traditional lady am I? We haven’t been snow mobiling yet, which is surprising I know!! I too am surprised. But first!!!!! We head out to the farm this weekend to go on a Sleigh 🛷 Ride and I am ecstatic!! Like little kid running downstairs to find a enormous pile of perfectly wrapped presents on Christmas Morning excited! 🤗 Like Phillip @pckrcma awaiting a plate of chicken wings excited!! It’s a big deal folks and my dream come true! I’m looking forward to sharing bits and pieces of the experience with you on Instastories come this weekend, I hope my hands aren’t too cold to hold my phone and share all the glory!!!! Have you ever been on a sleigh ride? Would you brave the Wisconsin snow for a ride through the woods?? If not, what’s your favorite winter sport? No judging if it’s eating all 14 kinds of Christmas cookies your Grandma makes!
Dress | @lulus
His Attire | @cabelas
Makeup | @kcharlesbeauty

What kind of lady would you be if you didn’t enjoy binging on carbs with your dashing man? Surrounded by autumn colors, a picnic, wine, caramel apples, a view of the Sturgeon Bay canal & smooching on the sand dunes.
Our fall went fast..way too fast! But winter is basically here and I’m okay about it because it’s the most wonderful time of the year of course!! So instead of surrounding ourselves with the mentioned above we’ll be sharing another holiday tradition with Cole that he’ll appreciate at this age more than he is in years past. We’ll light the electric stove (what genius covered our 1904 fireplace with plaster??) and dance around it while singing classics from Burl Ives, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Brenda Lee. If your wondering. Yes, Marshmallow World is my favorite holiday tune and I have no problem singing it for you, just ask!
We will snack on a charcuterie board, drink sparkling grape juice, and snuggle while playing board games on top of our sleeping bags laid out on the living room floor. This tradition started with my Dad & I when I was small and it’s by far one of my favorites to share with Cole. It’s all the best things about the season in one night. I hope to see this be passed on to our Grandkids one day.
Do you have a night like this that you spend with your family or friends? What holiday song are you belting at top lung capacity this season?? We’re always looking for new traditions to add, especially ones with deep heritage and good meaning. I’d love to hear about yours!! Andrea’s Cardigan | @apricotlanegb
Phillip’s Shirt | @cabelas
Makeup | @kcharlesbeauty

Already planning my tablescape for Christmas dinner. I love mixed metals as featured here however this year I’m thinking about keeping it classic because that’s my motto for the next year going forward. Classic, timeless, full of heritage and natural beauty. Family traditions are a cherished part of the holidays for us, as I’m sure it is to you! I can’t decide though between all my blue & white transferware or the ever loved green, red, & gold. Help me out!! How are you planning on styling your table decor this year? Fresh greens or faux? White candles in gold holders? Crystal sleighs and brass reindeer? White cloth or red? I’m lost and headed out to shop as soon as it stops snowing!! Florals @motthanna

“The worst thing you've ever done, the darkest thought you've ever had, I will stand by you through anything." - Blair Waldorf

Who else gets stuck in a cycle of watching far too many scenes of Blair & Chuck’s relationship?? I need a new show, any suggestions? I’m on an eternal loop of Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, Heart of Dixie, & This Is Us. Send help, popcorn, & new Netflix shows that are binge worthy! & while we’re having a Blair moment..she is my all time style icon, along with @maggieemaee, @sarahkjp, @reesewitherspoon, & @kensingtonroyal. Who do you look towards for your style inspiration?

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