personalized ornaments

This is what the kitchen table looks like these days...

In all my spare time (ha! I'm hilarious) I've got a new side gig.  My main side gig at Hallmark, hooked me up with another side gig this Christmas.  In case you forgot, I'm getting married, so I greatly welcome opportunities to build my "wedding fund" account.

This year they ordered bunches and bunches of ornaments that had space to be personalized.  They gave me a paint pen and I've beed busy ever since!!!

Need a gift to be extra special? I'd be happy to write a name, date, quote, or bible verse on it!!!

decorations of red...

as much as I would LOVE to buy new bedding every single month I'm quite the opposite when it comes to my seasonal decorations.  I tend to keep everything the same from one year to the next (as much as I've been able to).  Each little piece is considered an investment and it has a specific place and purpose.  Well, I broke my rules this year.  I got something new to go on the mantle.

Isn't it cute?! We got them in at Hallmark awhile back.  I saw it, fell in love, saw that it was the slightest bit damaged and got it for even cheaper!!!  I love how the bird on top ties in with my beloved bird vase.  So here is our new sign, with it's new "mantle decoration friends" looking like its been there every year before..

I also got this new little, what a I call, sweater tree!  I think it's super cute and warm and cuddle-y. 

In my mind it would go on the floor by the "fireplace" but Dylan thought it was his Christmas toy.  So now, it's home is the dentist cabinet along with some left over yarn balls I didn't use on my wreath.

christmas wreath in progress

it's still lacking one major part...BUT...at least it's on the door!!!

still have a dead mum and gourd on the porch.  baby steps folks...still taking baby steps.

children's gift idea

As more and more of peers have children...and my siblings have children...I find myself shopping more for their kids then for them. Sorry guys.

Anyway...while I was trying to find christmas gifts for my nephew I saw these fun tempory hand tatoos from The Container Store.  (I've since seen them at Paper Source as well but they are a few dollars more there). 

We did Christmas with my brother and his family over Thanksgiving and Sean had a zebra and shark on his hands for the weekend!  I highly recommend getting them for any little ones in your life!  They make animals and monsters.

baby steps towards Christmas

When it comes to decorating for Christmas I am typically a GET IT ALL DOWN IN ONE DAY kind of girl.  Well, that just didn't happen this year. 

I mentioned in the last post that we lost all of our outside decor in the flood.  So, we started with the inside and the Christmas tree.  That lead to the mantle and a few other spots. Piece by piece it is coming together.  I don't like that it's not completely finished...but I'm also not at Josh's house everyday so it doesn't bother me as much.

Here is a mantle sneak peek:

and like I said...the outside is not decorated.  not only is just not decorated for Christmas, but it still has a gourd on the porch. GASP! I know, I know.  Please don't tell Martha!  It will be thrown away soon...right babe?! (hint hint).  I was going to take a picture, but you get this instead ...the x's mark what isn't there.

the outside...the very sad, dead, remains of fall.  but inside it's like a Christmas forest full of pine, evergreen, and everything merry.

How is your house? All decorated? outside AND in?!

O Christmas Tree!

Woo Hoo!!!! Hellloooooo Christmas season!  Josh and I (along with A.LOT. of folks) got our Christmas tree this weekend.  The past years I've had an artificial tree.  It was a great deal I found at target about 5 years ago.  She was great and reliable.  Despite the fact that some birds made my tree its home in my mom's basement last year...Josh was determined to get a live one.  I'm fairly certain our family will be a "live tree" family.  It is just a little bit more fun, it makes your house smell nice, and it gives the man something to do when it's time to decorate (not that arranging the garland on the mantle just right isn't Josh's favorite...).

last year our tree was somewhat "small" considering it barely went over Josh's head...but this year, we changed up the location and were able to get a much taller tree!

(I'm sure this is one of those points where Josh wishes I would be more helpful instead of taking pictures the whole time...but it looks like he's doing a great job).  and see...perfectly straight...great job babe!

900 lights and some ornaments later...

We lost all our outside decorations in the flood so we are having to re-think what we want it all to look like.  Josh's is fine to go all Griswold on the roof, I'm more of a keep it classy all white lights look.  We'll see how it goes!

Christmas is coming!

I couldn't figure out how to start this blog.  I knew the minute I said "Bath and Body Works" everyone would cringe as the smells of country apple and sun-rippened raspberry filled the room and took you back to the middle school locker room as everyone got ready after gym class.  But...I need you to push through and hear me out...

source

Have you used this? It's THE.MOST. amazing holiday scent there ever was. I was introduced to it 8 years ago when I worked for Bath and Body Works and I'm pretty sure I've bought it every year since.  Vanilla Bean Noel...oh my goodness yall!  Give me a bottle of that and a grande Peppermint Mocha and everyday is Christmas morning and all is right with the world.

I'm not the world's biggest vanilla scent fan either.  It's a little too sugar-y a lot of times for me.  But this, Vanilla Bean Noel, makes the sugar so christmas-y and wonderful that when you light the candle, or wash your hands, or use the lotion all you think about is gathering with friends by the fireplace and eating yummy Christmas treats.  Seriously.  I love this scent...but only at Christmas.  It's in stores now!  so go buy it!

your welcome!

ps. 73 days until Christmas