Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We are getting snow again...can you tell how sick of this I am? White Christmas...yes!

Please have safe travels and enjoy time with family and friends. While times are tough, there really is so much to be thankful for.

* Family
* Friends
* Health
* Freedom
* Love

White Christmas

It is definately a WHITE CHRISTMAS this year. It is snowing AGAIN as I type this. We could get another 8-12 inches by the time it stops tomorrow. I am so sick of winter already and we still have a good 3 months to go.


One thing keeping me busy and completely engrossed is the Twilight Saga. I finished the second book New Moon and started to reread Twilight and New Moon again until I can go get Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. They are sooo good and I cannot put it down. I really want to see the movie too now. Silly, I know! I am 33 after all.


Can I just say though that this Robert Pattinson guy playing Edward Cullen is not who I imagined when I read the book, but with pics like this


he is definately growing on me....YUM! Anyway, I will have to go see the movie or wait till it is out on video and I am not sure if I can wait that long.

Christmas is 2 days away. I am pretty much ready. Got a couple presents to wrap tonight. Spending time with the family over the next week will be so nice. I will be sad to see my parents leave for Arkansas on Saturday though. At least my mom will be flying back in February to stay for a few weeks.

Happy Holidays to all!!

Christmas Past

With Christmas only 8 short days away, I thought I would take a little trip down memory lane. I went back and found some pictures from Lauren's first and second Christmases. My how times have changed.

Too much eggnog??

Getting the hang of this.

She loved her monkey.

Pretty Christmas Dress

Lookin a little Mary Tyler Moore-ish?

I cannot wait for this year. I am sure she will love it. I am also looking forward to starting more traditions as she gets old enough to participate.

My Little Fish

It is no secret how much Lauren loves the water...she would stay in the bathtub for hours if we let her.

Need some proof?

I love listening to her when she takes a bath...she sings and gives drinks to her fishy by shoving his head in the cup. She always lays on her tummy and kicks and paddles and says, "I swimming in the ocean." She is truly a little fish.

Jas and I decided maybe we would try to take her to an indoor waterpark this winter and let her swim all day. Should be interesting...I will be sure to have my camera if we do it.

Blizzard

I feel like this is what it is going to look like around here before Christmas. Snow, snow, snow and I am sick of it already. We set a record last year for snow...over 100 inches. Sadly, we may on our way to breaking that this year. Grrrrr!

Thursday/Friday: 8-12 inches

Sunday: another 6 possible

More Great DIY Projects I Want To Try

First, from The Small Object, these adorable fabric trees would be so cute to display during the holidays.

Next, from The Red Thread, these fabric ornaments are so sweet. What a great way to add some DIY to your tree trimming.

And a few more pictures I had saved that I think look like fun DIY projects!

Festive!

I love this idea of making your own garland. It is so sweet and fun and EASY! I amy have to try this...maybe for Lauren's birthday and we can use it every year.

Directions are on The Purl Bee's website.

Hair Solution

Could this be the solution to all my hair problem ideas?? For Lauren, I mean. Her long, flowing hair is always getting in her face and I am at a lack of ideas to make it cute and functional.

Enter knotheads. I know...things always sound better then they are, but for $10, it may be worth a try.

Elf On The Shelf

I have seen this on many blogs and just love the whole idea and tradition of it. Elf On The Shelf is simply adorable and fun for the whole family.

This charming tradition began for our family when my children were very small. Plagued by their desire to know how Santa really knew who had been naughty or nice, I searched through the Christmas decorations for a plausible explanation. Nestled among them was the answer; a small elf doll from my own childhood. With that discovery, the idea for the elf tradition was born.

At our home the elf would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch my children's behavior and report it to "Santa" each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the "North Pole" and was hiding in a different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position.

Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were even introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him; however, they were allowed to talk to him. For obvious reasons, he was not allowed to reply. Eventually, my children even gave him a name - officially adopting him into the family.

Unwittingly, the tradition provided an added benefit: it helped the children to better control themselves. All it took was a gentle reminder that the "elf was watching" for errant behavior to be modified.

I never dreamed this simple tradition would lead to so many Christmas memories for our entire family. It is my earnest desire that The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition will bring as much joy to your family as it has to mine.

Little Poser

The weekend went fast, even though I am still sick. The good news is my throat is better (I can swallow without tears), but now I am coughing and congested. The fun never ends.

Now that Lauren is feeling back to normal, I wanted to get a couple pictures in her Christmas dress for the grandparents. Needless to say, it was not hugely successful. Age 2 is so hard to take pictures of. She did manage to pose for a few.

10 days till Christmas....how can that be??

Saturday, Lauren and I went to my parents house and we made Christmas cookies all day. Yesterday, my mother in law stopped over for a visit. And today....we woke up to -30 wind chills!!

Ahhh Relief

After another night with hardly any sleep (I am close to zombie status now) I decided to bit the bullet and go see a doctor. Without insurance really sucks, but I could not put up with this pain for another day.

Thankfully, the culture came back negative for strep, but the doc said I had really, really inflammed tonsils from some virus and she prescribed me VICODIN! Ahhh now I can sleep again. Damn all these viruses and bacteria...leave my family alone will ya?

One good thing to come out of the no sleeping....I read about 5 chapters in New Moon last night. Too bad it was too painful to truly enjoy it!

My Turn

I slept maybe 2 hours last night and that is probably being generous. I woke up with the worst sore throat. Damn this cold/flu season!! I have already had the flu in September and a really bad cold in October...why not throw in a few more miserable ailments. After endless times gargling with warm salt water, Listerine and even eating spoonfuls of honey...nothing seemed to help.



Enter this wonderful little invention...thanks mom! This stuff is potent and works with ONE spray. It completely numbs all pain and lasts for hours. Just one problem...make sure you hit your tonsils on the first try.

Oh and Happy Birthday to my wonderful mother in law. Diane, you are like my second mom....I love you to pieces!!

Back On The Mend

Well after being snowed in yesterday (ice and 7+ inches of snow), I think Lauren is finally almost over her cold or whatever that was. We took her to daycare today and as of 1:00pm, still no call from daycare, so that is good news. Poor little sweetheart. I am hoping she can stay healthy now for a while.

Jas had an interview yesterday....he was one of 12. Narrowed down from over 70 applicants! Holy Cow! The competition is nuts for every job right now. Unemployment is so high that even the smallest job is garnering tons of prospects. I pray Jas gets a call back Monday for a second interview. All I want for Christmas is for him to find a job. He has another interview on the 15th. Please, please let one of these work out.

Lastly, I am so excited to get some pictures of Lauren in her Christmas dress. I love this dress. Got it from Gap this year. The color is so rich and the dress is just so sweet and beautiful. Too bad she cannot wear it for the next 5 years.

My Poor Baby

This weekend was a rough one for Lauren, who managed to get a cold in her eyes as well as her head. Thankfully, she is acting like she feels fine, but the pictures show a sick little baby. It is amazing how she looks nothing like herself.

Taken Sunday Morning

Taken Monday Morning

Lounge/Study Moodboard

A sweet haven for a future preteen girl to study and hangout with friends. A purpley-gray piece of heaven, if you will.

Inspiration

While looking at my Garnet Hill magazine last night, I came across a picture that has given me inspiration for a room downstairs. I want to make the two rooms downstairs "Lauren's" rooms when she is older. One will be her bedroom and the other will be a lounge/study room.

Anyway, I was trying to rack my brain for a great color combo for the lounge/study room. Something fun, yet calm, something feminine, but not over the top. Lo and behold, I came across this picture and it spoke to me. The perfect color combination for a calming, fun, girlie hangout.

Gray and Purple/Lavender

Now I am off to find pictures of items for the room. So fun!

Happy Birthday Mommy Dearest

Today is my mom's birthday. She is a YOUNG 59! She looks about 40, IMHO. She is my best friend, my hero, my cheerleader, my Dear Abby, my epitome of the ideal mother and what I am striving to be like.

Mom, I love you so very much. I am so thankful for all you have done for me over the past 33 years. You are the best mother and grandmother in the world. I am the person I am because of you. And the best compliment I can ever receive are to hear the words, "You are just like your monther."

Welcome Will!

It is a very Merry Christmas for my friend, Amber. She gave birth to William via c-section yesterday. Will was 8 lbs 6 oz and 21 inches long (taking after his tall daddy already)

Congrats Amber and Jason! I cannot wait to meet your handsome little elf!

Shirtdress

I have wanted a shirtdress for quite sometime, but nothing ever jumped out at me or it cost a fortune. Today, I came across this little number. Fun, flirty and affordable!

Storms Bring Babies

I am convinved of this. My friend, Amber, who was due on Monday with her first child just texted me that she is on her way to the hospital now. We joked that she would go into labor today since there is a snowstorm.

Good Luck Amber! I am eagerly waiting for the good news!

Happy Holidays

Our lovely little fireplace all decked out for Christmas. Hope to do a tree next year.

Organizing

Organizing is one of my most favorite things....so this past LONG weekend I did just that. Dumb me forgot to take any before pictures since I was so pumped to get started, but trust me when I say, they were bad! I did take after pictures to document a very productive project.

The lovely little pantry

Relocated my pots and pans
Baking Supplies

Ah, the Lazy Susan...perfect for canned goods

Vinegar

Vinegar is my new best friend. After reading some info about how many uses there are for vinegar, I decided to try a few of them. Low and behold, I am in love.

My favorite new use for vinegar.....as fabric softener! It is amazing. You clothes come out fresh, soft and bright. Vinegar is so much cheaper and doesn't gunk up your washer like fabric softener does.

Consider me sold on this idea!!

My Attempt At Photography

Thankfully the two subjects were absolute angels.