Friday, January 27, 2012

This post brought to you by Pinterest...

I know I am not the only one who has been spending way too much time on Pinterest. So for Christmas this year I decided to do some of those things I had actually pinned.
The above photo is the super simple wrapping I did on these cute ribbon book marks. Just a folded piece of card stock with a ribbon tie. I used a couple scrap booking dots to hold the bookmarks on. The book marks are made by cutting a piece of ribbon and fray-checking each end. I then added a jump ring and a charm. Pinch shut with pliers. That simple!
These super cute ornaments are one of my new favorite gifts. I made one earlier this year with one of my best friends wedding invitations. These were made for teacher gifts this year. Simply type up the names of all the students in a class leaving a few spaces between the lines for cutting. Cut them into strips. Wrap the strips around a pencil to curl and stuff into a clear ornament. Add a cute ribbon or embellishment and voila! I used a sharpie to add the year to the bottom of each ornament also.


I made these little snowman guys as class gifts this year too. I went to Michael's and got a package of pretzel bags. They were a bit long so I trimmed them to size. Stuff with marshmallows, tie a ribbon around the neck and then draw a face and buttons with a sharpie. We attached a little note also. I was able to do enough for both kids classes for about $4!
Jaeden's teacher loves frogs so he wanted to give her something frogs for Christmas. Not an easy thing to find. So I made her a mod podge clip board. My sister in law made me some die cuts of frogs to use also. We decided to keep the front simple with just one frog since it will have papers on it most of the time and added a few more frogs to the back.


My mom writes a note to my dad most everyday. Usually little things like " don't forget to pick take out the trash" So when I saw these adorable note boards I knew I had to make her one. It is so simple. Place a piece of cute scrapbook paper into a picture frame. I added letters to spell out Notes also. Soooo simple! I am making a Menu board for our kitchen the same way.

I kept seeing these adorable photo blocks all over Pinterest. As I was telling Jeremy about them, he told me we already had enough scrap wood in the garage to make those- score! Being the great guy he is, he cut, sanded and painted them black for me. Then I simply mod podged a piece of scrapbook paper on, the added an embellishment with mod podge. Finally we hot glued on clothes pins that we had painted black and clipped on a photo.

I am sure there were be several more Pinterest posts to come.....
Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

A Christmas Tradition

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is taking the kids to the Purdue Memorial Union to see the Christmas tree and gingerbread house. Nothing smells like Christmas more than a giant, fresh tree and a life-sized gingerbread house. Jaclyn and I got to go twice this year. We took our annual trip with my besties Jen and Erin with all of our little besties, Jaclyn, Ali, and Andrew. Then a few days later Jeremy and I headed over with the kids. Such fun!
The view from the upstairs balcony of the tree.



Me and my girl on our first trip to the tree.

I can't believe Jman is almost too tall for the gingerbread house window!

They thought it would be fun to sit on the presents this year.

3 of my favorite people in this world!


In front of the gingerbread house with the amazing sugar swirled windows!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like (Less) Christmas

We have decked our halls. Well, as much as we are going to this year. This year we are scaling back on the the crazy decorating, scaling back on the crazy shopping, scaling back on the crazy scheduling and trying to put a focus on what Christmas is really about- Christ. The Children's Department at our church has been doing the Advent Conspiracy campaign. Which essentially is Spending Less to Give More. I am loving this idea.
So this year we are doing most of our favorite holiday things, but remembering what the season is all about. It is a year of making handmade gifts, and cutting out some of the excess. We are still buying gifts but being more mindful of what we purchase ( I know Dave Ramsey would be proud- Ha!)
We have decorated the tree...
Put out the nativity set-- this is one of my most favorite things. It was my moms, and sure the faces are getting chipped and the donkey is missing an ear, but I love the nostalgia of it.
And decorated the table... This year I tried something a little different with the table. We had a Ladies Ornament Exchange at church and they decorated with mason jars filled with Epsom's salt and candles. So simple! So I came home and pulled out the Epsom's salt we had and put it in these cute cups with an ornament and a tulle bow. I love the snowy feel of it.

This little guy was my prize at the Ornament Exchange. Isn't he adorable! He makes me smile every time I look at him. I actually didn't win him, but one of my bestest friends did. Erin knew how much I adored "Timmy" and let me take him home. =)
Can't wait to share some of our favorite Christmas traditions like going the Purdue Memorial Union to see the giant Christmas Tree and gingerbread house!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

May your Holidays be Merry & Bright

It's that time of year again. Time to take the Christmas card pictures, put up the tree, untangle the lights, sing carols at the top of our lungs, drink lots of hot chocolate and hopefully get to make some snow angels before too long.
I LOVE CHRISTMAS!






Even Lily and Cinder have gotten into the Christmas spirit this year. =)



And my wonderful hubby just celebrated his birthday. I am so thankful to have such a funny and loving man who is such a fantastic father in my life.
The shirt I am wearing was a little part of his gift this year. =o)
Posted by Picasa

Fall Programs

Both kids participated in Fall Programs over the last couple weeks. The 2nd graders at Cumberland put on "Fall Into the Thanksgiving Season". They did a fantastic job. Jaeden was a Sweet Potato and had his first speaking lines! He did an amazing job.



Grandma Nana and Papaw were able to make it up to see Jaeden's play as well. =)
Jaclyn's preschool held their Thanksgiving program as well. It was filled with adorable little Pilgrims and Indians.
My favorite little Indian had to be Flower Power. =)


Posted by Picasa

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Fall, Beautiful Fall!

The older I get, the more I love Fall. I love the crunch of the leaves under my feet as I walk, the smells, the crispness in the air and the explosion of color all around me.
Here are a few of my favorite photos this season.
( More to come, I promise.)