I am so excited to offer another giveaway and just in time for the holidays. Today’s giveaway is from Jen’s Signs! My talented friend Jennifer hand makes each piece. She has many signs available to purchase on her website and specializes in custom signs. {If you have seen it or imagined it, she can make it for you! She is crazy good. } The smaller signs make lovely hostess or teacher gifts this time of year. You can also see many of Jen’s recent designs on her Facebook page. Be sure to check it out!
For a chance to win this festive reindeer sign, visit Jen’s Signs and leave a comment below with your favorite sign from her online store. Entries must be posted by Wednesday, December 17 by 9am PST. One winner will be chosen at random.
{Limited to U.S. readers. Winners will be announced on Where is June? Facebook page and by email.}
I digress from holiday posts to discuss with you a vitally important topic. Who is the hottest flyer in the Top Gun volleyball scene? Oh, I know you know it. I just watched Top Gun again over the weekend. You remember the players: Maverick, Goose, Ice Man, & Slider. I am pretty sure Goose is out of the running since the poor guy didn’t even get to take his shirt off. So then we are left with three! My choice? Slider. Hello, beautiful. Seriously, just look at him.
Need to refresh your memory? For your viewing pleasure:
Now I ask you. Who is hottest Naval Aviator in this scene?
{And, just as important, what happened to the actor that played Slider.}
My dearest, childhood friend gave me the idea to start a holiday memory book. It is a simple way to gather the photos, cards and Santa pictures in one, safe place. I chose an expandable scrapbook style, so I can add to it when we need the extra pages. The first page is our first Christmas as a married couple. Once we had children I began to also send a small note with our picture. Every year has two pages. Our family photo and letter on one side and the boys’ Santa picture on the other. I buy holiday themed papers at a craft store along with a few embellishments. The beauty of this book is that I only have a small, quick project once a year. At the end of the holiday season, I toss our card and pictures in the back of the book- so they are ready for the following year. I am going to work on the 2012 pages this week. The book sits on our coffee table throughout December. I love looking through it. It is a treat to see how far we’ve come!
I wanted to share the cutest darn Etsy shop around! A LA MODO carries the sweetest to-go containers for a slice of pie. I ordered these boxes right before Thanksgiving. The kit came with the boxes, bakers twine, wooden forks, and parchment paper for packing. I was able to send left over pie home with my guests. How fun is that? You could also pre-slice a pie and bring these cuties along with you. They are like little presents you friends get to open {and then eat!}.
I also love that the shop owner lives right here in Seattle. Supporting local, creative people is always a bonus.
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?
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.
The “before” picture was taken in the summer of 2009 on our 8th wedding anniversary. I remember loving this picture. 8 years, two babies, and still incredibly happy. Somehow I didn’t notice Aaron’s gaunt face. I didn’t notice how his shirt hung off of his ultra-skinny body or how his belt had to be cinched to hold up his pants. It all seems so obvious now, but hindsight is crystal clear. He was incredibly sick. It is very hard to remember, but using picture evidence, the physical signs began to show in 2007. He was also incredibly weak, always tired, and had horrendous intestinal problems. We attributed it to stress from a new job. The tipping point was an emergency hospital stay and the loss of more than 30 pounds. I finally forced my husband to see a doctor. With simple blood work it was confirmed that he had Celiac Disease. Gluten was gone, forever! Within a week of eating gluten free, he began to feel normal. He tells me that he didn’t realize how bad he felt until he started to recover. In the span of 6 months, he gained 20+ pounds and was feeling 100% himself. The “after” picture, taken in 2012, tells the whole story. {Isn’t he so handsome and healthy?}
Celiac Disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. This reaction destroys the tiny hair like fibers in the small intestine which absorb nutrients from food. {And that is no good!} There is no cure. It is 100% managed by diet. A diagnosis of Celiac Disease is really a diagnosis for the whole family. It can be extremely overwhelming and scary! It is NOT the same thing as being gluten intolerant. I must repeat. It is NOT the same thing as being gluten intolerant. Interested in things I have learned, resources I used, and products we love? Click through for the 411! (more…)
