Presents My Kids Played With Longer Than 5 Minutes
I challenge you to find me one parent on the face of this planet that didn’t hear their children say at some point after Christmas, “I’m bored.” In certain dialects it could have also sounded like, “I’m booooored.” You find me that one parent and I’ll show you a person with their pants on fire. Or a parent who is wearing earplugs because they are so much smarter than me. Yes, yes. There were moments this holiday season that were magical. Joy-filled. Melt my heart. Worthy of a Hallmark card. Those are the moments I hold close to my heart while I let electronics babysit my kids because the week…
Merry Christmas 2018
So this is Christmas. And what have we done? Well, we took one family picture this year. So, that’s something. Ha! Seriously though, this year has been a full one and I can’t believe it’s already coming to a close! From our family to yours, we wish you all the best – not just today – but in all the days to come. I also want to say thank you. Thank you for following along on this journey and being a part of my world. Thank you for sharing part of yourself with me. I’ll be taking off the rest of the year to spend time with my family and…
Happy List: #100
Holy cow! I’ve done 100 of these Happy Lists. Time sure does fly by! We are in hardcore countdown to Christmas around these parts. My kids have a half day of school today and then they’ll be home through January 1. I’m getting ready to head off to a class party with the sweetest bunch of 3rd graders, so wish me luck! This was basically Christmas week on the blog. I shared some DIY ornaments and how I’ve decorated our living room and kitchen for the holidays. Here’s the Happy List! WARMER IN THE WINTER If any of you Dancing With the Stars fans miss Lindsey Stirling and Mark Ballas,…
Christmas Touches in the Kitchen and Living Room
For the first time in my life I have discovered the worst best feeling to have. Yes, I typed that sentence how I meant it. I am done shopping for Christmas. I’ve been done since December 12. I even wrapped all of the presents. WHO AM I?!?! I should feel amazing. I should be humble bragging right now. Maybe just flat out bragging, but I’m a mature adult, so I won’t do that. I’ll blog about it instead. Instead of relishing in the self-satisfaction that all of this forward-thinking and advanced prep work created, I. AM. FREAKING. OUT. Not on the outside, of course, because I don’t do that. On the…
Color Blocked Wood Ornaments – Tags and Balls
It wouldn’t be Christmas if I didn’t feel the need to make some ornaments. Someone check my temperature if I ever decide not to be crafty at Christmas, okay? This may turn out to be the longest running fever on record. Seriously though, making ornaments the last few years is something I oddly enjoy. Is that a hobby? Guys, did I finally find a hobby? Nah… This year I wizened up an created ornaments that can be made over when I change my mind on colors or styles in the coming years. There’s something very freeing in the idea that you can change your mind later. I highly recommend this…
Happy List: #99
Hello, hello! I sure hope you’re enjoying the Christmas season. This week I shared two equally awesome things on the blog. One was free. The other wasn’t. If you missed it, read about my new artwork here and my new tree here. Guys, my introvert streak runs deep, but I love it when you comment on the blog or connect with me on social media. I’m on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest too. Now, here’s the Happy List! FANCY DOORS I’m assuming these doors are quite expensive. However, I think they could also be DIY’d. See more pictures of this home in My Domaine. (image: My Domaine photo: Lisa Romerein; design: Jute Home) GYM…
Christmas Tree 2018: Blue, White and Natural Wood
Once upon a time a certain blogger became over-zealous in downsizing her possessions before moving back to the United States. She gave away her faux Christmas tree only to discover there WAS room in the shipping container. Alas, it was too late. The tree was gone and the ship was actually setting sail. Much to her husband’s dismay, her only choice was to buy a new tree to bring sparkle and magic to their new home at Christmas. Much to her husband’s delight, the new tree was found on deep discount at Michael’s because a certain blogger has the Michael’s phone app with all the coupons. The husband was so…
The Painting I Rescued From the Trash
Here’s some advice to live by: always go for a walk around the neighborhood the night before garbage day. Trust me! You never know what treasures you might find just sitting on the curb waiting for the garbage truck to be discovered. Earlier this fall I took one of these walks. It was late afternoon. The air was crisp. The leaves were still glorious. There wasn’t a soul in sight. That’s when I spotted it. Do you see it? A painting sitting with a pile of trash at the end of someone’s driveway. They’d left it there to be collected by the garbage truck. Or me. Their intent could have gone either…
Happy List: #98
Ho, ho, ho and happy Friday! I’ve been waiting all year to say that! You’re welcome. This week I shared my chalkboard globe advent calendar. The idea for it came from a lot of thought, planning and preparation. Just kidding! It came from sheer desperation. I also shared the Peg Doll Place Cards that were painted by my 11-year-old. It was the neatest way to personalize our Thanksgiving table. If you don’t like to paint, you could always convince my 11-year-old to paint some for you! I’d love it if we connected on social media too! I’m on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Earlier this week on Instagram I shared a…
Peg Doll Place Cards
In November I gave my daughter a set of unfinished wooden peg dolls. My original request was that she paint our family on peg dolls as a Christmas present to me so I could put them in a shadowbox frame. She loved that idea. I loved that idea. The peg dolls arrived just as friends flew in to stay with us for Thanksgiving. That prompted an even better idea! Peg Doll Place Cards for Thanksgiving Dinner. I asked my daughter and her friend (they are both 11 years old) if they would paint peg dolls for every person joining us for Thanksgiving. Instead of place cards at each table setting,…
