In just a few hours our home will be filled with laughter, family and love. My heart is full of abundant gratitude for you. Your encouragement, kind words, and thoughtful comments mean more than you could possibly know! I am so grateful for my little creative space here in the world wide web.
I CANNOT wait to eat stuffing and pie! Love to you all.
Who doesn’t love a gift guide?!? This time of year I am a sucker for any sort of guide that helps with creative gift giving. I hope to post a few guides in the next couple of weeks. Let’s kick off the series with Gifts for Her. Your sisters, girlfriends and mothers all deserve thoughtful, beautiful gifts! {You may even find a few items to put on your own wish list.} Plus, many on this list are under $30. And we love that, right?
1// Dana Rebecca | Sylvie Rose necklace
3// Faux Fur scarf
4// iPhone case
5// Stella & Dot | Linda studs
6// Kiehl’s lip balm
7// Polaroid camera
9// Mark and Graham | Boho bag
10// Macaron box
Be Merry & Bright!
It is time. With December arriving at the end of the week, it is officially time to face the fact that holiday shopping is upon us. A few years ago, I simplified the shopping for my own boys. I give gifts in four categories: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. Santa still brings one special gift and usually helps me with at least one of the categories. My husband and I give each boy one present and they exchange gifts with each other. It sure has made gift giving more enjoyable. No frenzy. No need to get Christmas frantic. I thought it might be nice this year for them to complete their wishlists using these categories as a guide. I am sure there will be more than one thing under each heading and that is just fine! At least it will make them ponder a bit- instead of creating a long list of toys {and junk}.
Want to give this simple wish list a try with your family this year? All you need is this free downloadable template and a few minutes. Add some hot cocoa and candy cane and you are really going for it!
I am a firm believer in celebrating one holiday at time. However, when it comes to holiday cards you have to get started. Soon. Sharing a few ideas for your cards this year.
1. Decide on picture(s).
If you are like me, this may actually be a very difficult step! We always include a family photo. There have been years when December rolls around and there isn’t a snap shot of the four of us. Personally, I LOVE the cards that show the fun and joy in life! Who cares if everyone is looking at the camera? Perfect is boring. {Unless of course it is a professional portrait and those are pure awesome!}
2. Choose source for cards.
There are so many amazing resources to create your own cards. A few include: Shutterfly, Tiny Prints, Minted, Snapfish. {I know many also use Costco, but I am not a member.} This year I am super excited about Pear Tree Greetings. They have unique and fun layouts with tons of options to customize the greetings, artwork, and colors.
3. Select & finalize layout.
I find this is the most time-consuming step. I often will find a layout I love, but it doesn’t work with the photo I have chosen. One thing to remember is to pick a font that easy to read. Also, choose font colors that pop. Last year I selected to print our last name in green {see our 2012 card above} and I think red would have looked better. What do you think?
4. Update addresses.
What is it with people moving all the time? Every year I need to update {or add new} addresses. It isn’t a bad idea to look at your list and send a quick email today to everyone who is in a new home. Update your list as each person responds. Now you will be ready for #5
5. Stuff, seal & send.
Print address labels using Avery templates. I am sure there is some etiquette book that says you should hand address your cards. Check the copyright date on that book. Let’s be real, people. Print and stick. Now, I have a life changing tip for you. I found a moistener tube for $.99 at Office Depot that saves me! No licking. Just fill the tube with water, swipe the envelope seal with the moistened end, and seal it shut! {No need to thank me.} Lastly, I am dying to buy a custom address stamp! Easy to use and the type is gorgeous! {Think I better order one if I am going to use it this year!}
Ok. Ready, set, freak out! No, really, you can do this. If the time line is too short, send a Happy New Year card. Still think it isn’t going to get done? Take a deep breath and let it go. There is always next year.
My go-to afternoon snack as of late! A Chicken Salad that satisfies.
In a medium size bowl mix:
1/2 of an apple {Honeycrisp are exceptionally good!}
1 stalk of celery {chopped}
1 small handful of walnuts {chopped}
6-8 oz of chicken breast {chopped}
1-2 tsp. Vegenaise {Mayo works too, of course}
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Serve alone OR with hearty crackers OR wrap in Boston Lettuce leaves.
Whoa! The weather has taken a turn. A turn toward cold, dark and WET! I seem to be entering hibernation mode. All I want is my sweats, big cups of coffee and comfort food. Last Friday I decided a pot roast was the key to my happiness. I used the Pioneer Woman’s recipe for the Perfect Pot Roast. Using one pot and simple ingredients {chuck roast, vegetables, beef stock, and herbs} it fit all my criteria for a great recipe. The meat was so moist and tender it fell basically fell apart when I sliced it. I will warn you. It cooks 4+ hours in the oven. With busy weekday schedules, it is most likely a weekend or Sunday dinner. But it so worth the wait! Plus, we had a huge amount left over. It gave us a bonus meal of French Dip Sandwiches {using this au jus recipe}. Who doesn’t love bonus meals?
Stay warm and dry.
Little Man asked me to help him write a sign and then slapped it up on his door! {Only 7 and under.} For the most part my boys are good friends and love spending time together. I guess last week things weren’t going as well. My youngest had reached his limit with his brother and a sign was going to take care of it.
It got me to thinking. If a sign on the door actually works, maybe I should give it a try. What signs might I hang on the door?
Or possibly just keep it general and use one that works for any situation in my home.
What would your sign say? {Happy Monday. Mother on!}
I am down to the finishing touches on my closet TLC project. I want to choose one of these prints to accompany the other items I have gathered to make my closet the girliest place in my home. Obviously, the message is the same, so it comes down to a matter of design. Help me decide. I am so close to finishing and I can’t wait to share the results with all of you.
Which one do you like best?
Prints found @ Made by Girl
(See all of my closet inspiration on a closet to love Pinterest board.}
There have been many chats about hair cuts this week in our house. Big W is unhappy with a cut he got on Monday. It isn’t a bad cut, but it is much shorter than he is used to and he isn’t a fan. At dinner last night I told him that every adult could understand his pain. We have all been there. You know the story. You sit down in the chair, chat with your stylist and then something goes astray. To your horror, you see it happening {the train running off the tracks and hair falling to the floor} and there is nothing you can do about it. While breezing down memory lane with the help of a few photographs, I found much of my hair history falls into two categories. A bad cut OR a bad idea. Either way it has been quite a bumpy ride!
A few highlights: From a young age I wanted long hair. However my mom was in charge of styling decisions, so long hair was out and the pixie was in. It actually was a darling haircut, but not what I wanted. When I finally got a bit of power, I grew it long and a massive amount of bangs. To my own defense, it was the 80’s and everyone was doing it. Still, it was really bad idea. In the early 90’s, I went through a mid-high school crisis. My answer was to cut all my hair off. I walked into the salon with hair down to the small of my back and walked out with a pixie. It was a shocking change. The bad idea came when I was trying to grow out my hair. {If you have ever done this, you know it is long and embarrassing process!} So, I decided to perm it. Bad idea. Who does that??? However, the worst of the worst came in the summer of 2000 {a mere 12 months before my wedding day}! I loved Rene Russo’s hair in The Thomas Crown Affair. Actually, I was obsessed with it! So I took a picture with me and asked for the exact cut. A girl with curly hair, that frizzes at the sign of any moisture, has no business with this style. This was a horrible cut. Oh my gosh. It was so, so bad. Now, looking back, if I don’t laugh about it -I may cry.
Truthfully, I hope you are laughing. I am. How can you not? It is quite an unglamorous hair past. Please tell me you have pictures like these hidden somewhere. Commiserate with me. What is your worst hair story?!?
Reading should be fun and funny! Oh my gosh, your boys {and girls} will totally dig these books. The humor is aimed directly at boys, in my opinion. You be the judge.
A line from The Dumb Bunnies’ Easter: ” Poppa Bunny carved the turkey, Momma Bunny tossed the salad…and Baby Bunny cut the cheese. ‘That’s my boy,’ said Poppa Bunny.
Nothing like toilet humor, right? The 4-book series is written by Dav Pilkey, under the pseudonym “Sue Denim”. It follows a hilarious family of dumb bunnies. Giggles, from kids and parents, are guaranteed. The plot lines are outrageous and full of backwards adventures. Little Man asks for them over and over. Big W loves to be the one to read them to him! Win-Win.
PS. I kind of have a crush on Dav Pilkey. He writes books kids WANT to read. {It is quite a mind blowing concept.} In addition, I think his autobiography {read its entirety here} is the coolest thing around! Check it out.
