November 2012
Felt “Paper” Chain Garland {DiY}
I think I might have a slight felt problem. I love it almost as much as I love ModPodge, and so far this year it has played a starring role in many a Christmas decoration. But seriously folks, what’s not to love? It is super cheap (only $0.20 a sheet when it goes on sale), doesn’t fray, & can be used for SO MANY things! I wish I could say this was going to be my last felt project of the year, but we both know that’s probably not true, so please, please just humor me a little bit longer. Pretty please? This felt “paper” chain was inspired by a ... read more
30 Minute Felt Appliquéd Burlap Pillow {DiY}
Much to Husband’s chagrin, I insist on filling our sofas with pretty throw pillows. And despite how many times a day I am forced to rearrange, re-fluff, and pick them up off the floor, I refuse to give in. I love them. Without them, the room just doesn’t feel finished. I wanted some pretty new Christmasy pillow covers this year but I couldn’t really justify the $40+ price tag at Pottery Barn. Why are those silly things so expensive? Since I don’t have the patience for “real” sewing–or for taking the time to measure, pin, iron, and put in a zipper–I decided to come up with something a little quicker. It ... read more
DiY ornament wreath {handmade holidays}
My family is on a mission to worry less about stuff and instead craft our way to Christmas this year! We are sharing some of our DiY projects & ideas throughout the next month in a casual series called “Handmade Holidays” You can check out the rest of our projects here. I have been wanting to make an ornament wreath for practically forever, ever since I spotted the original here a few years ago. Last year I went a little crazy on ornaments and other trimmings at the after-Christmas sales (more on that later), which meant this year I finally had enough ornaments to spare. My original plan for this wreath was ... read more
DiY cake stand & 7-layer dream bars recipe {handmade holidays}
My family is on a mission to worry less about stuff and instead craft our way to Christmas this year! We are sharing some of our DiY projects & ideas throughout the next month in a casual series called “Handmade Holidays” You can check out the rest of our projects here. I first tried making my own cake stands for Trouble’s let them eat CAKE party earlier this year. They were so easy that I thought it would be a fun way to deliver holiday goodies this year. It was another great project for the girls to help with and they were received to rave reviews. After all, who doesn’t love receiving a ... read more
All The Things I’m Thankful For {Printable Gratitude Journal}
The girls and I have spent a lot of time this month talking about having an “attitude of gratitude” and what it means to be thankful for all that we have. Honestly there are many times a day when it seems like they just don’t get it and I frequently wonder if I am expecting to much of them. After all, it has taken me 34 years, and I am still learning. Is it unreasonable to want my 3 and 6 year old to be able to see beyond their own wants and needs? Perhaps, but I keep at it anyway. Because I know that even if they don’t get it ... read more
if you have to shop this year…. {a few of my favorite deals}
I’m interrupting my normal posting schedule to bring you this little Public Service Announcement While this year I am perfectly content to stay home and make pretty things, I do realize that not everyone has the time or desire to get all crafty around the holidays. I totally get it; in fact, I was in that exact same boat last year, with too much to do and not enough time to do it. Honestly one of the things I am MOST thankful for this year is that after selling my deal blog, I no longer feel obligated to keep up on all the latest deals and hot sales happening this ... read more
DiY scalloped felt & jute christmas tree display {handmade holidays}
As I shared last week, our family’s goal for the holidays this year is to worry less about stuff and more about giving from the heart, spending quality time together, & serving others. The girls and I are on a mission to not only make all our gifts this year, but to also create many handmade decorations and do lots of baking this year as well. I thought it would be fun to share some of our projects & ideas throughout the next month in a very casual series I am calling “Handmade Holidays” (I know, so original, right?) Let me just warn you right off the bat that ... read more
What I Won’t Give My Kids For Christmas This Year
A couple of months ago I wrote about taking all my kids’ toys away, and how that experience has fundamentally changed our family and the way we look at stuff. The response from that post–both positive and negative–was completely overwhelming, like nothing I have every experienced before while writing this blog. Who knew I could be so controversial? While the vast majority of readers applauded the decision and a few even said they were inspired to follow suit, there were also many others who passionately disagreed. They argued that I wasn’t teaching my kids any personal responsibility, that I was taking away their childhoods, that they would probably become hoarders, ... read more
the chicken mummy {the grossest thing we’ve ever done}
We finally finished our Chicken Mummy. Finally. It took FOREVER. The Ancient Egyptians could crank out one of those puppies in about 40 days; ours took at least twice that long. It was by far the grossest thing we’ve ever done. I can’t even tell you how gross it was. And stinky. It reeked. The pictures don’t do it justice. Husband was the only one who dared to touch it. A word to the wise….do NOT use the fresh, organic, plump, juicy, humongous whole chicken found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Apparently there are frozen ones that are much smaller and less succulent. In my defense, I ... read more
the very best fish recipe ever {stockpile meals}
I was always intimidated by fish until I stumbled upon this amazing recipe, and I have been meaning to share it for ages. I got the original version from my dear friend Jenny during a mom’s night out recipe swap back when we both lived in Seattle. We were so chatty that night that I only ended up writing down two recipes, but this was one of them. In the years since, I have tweaked it just a bit. It is one of my family’s very favorite meals and it is also a fantastic–and super easy–dish to serve guests, provided they eat seafood. The really great thing about this ... read more
How to Save on Food for the Holidays
Thanksgiving. Christmas Dinner. Holiday Parties. Seasonal baking. For most of us, food plays a starring roll in our holiday festivities. We all have our favorites, that certain special dish we only eat once a year. Without it Christmas or Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same. Oh, the pressure. And while our mouths start watering at the mere thought of golden roasted turkey & homemade apple pie, the cost of food, especially when combined with all of the other expenses this time of year, can be a serious strain on your budget. Even scarier, it is often one of those “hidden” expenses that we don’t account for when we think about ... read more
operation christmas child 2012 {the power of a simple gift}
It has always been important to us to teach our kids to appreciate what they have and to give to others who have less, but it seems like that lesson is so easily lost. This year, in the wake of our big toy purge, we are even more committed to making this holiday season about giving and not getting. One of our very favorite charity organizations is Operation Christmas Child (OCC), which I’m sure lots of you have heard of, especially if you have been reading this blog for a while. OCC sends shoeboxes filled with toys, candy, & toiletries to kids in need around the world. Although it may seem ... read more
Better Christmas Card Photos {8 Tips for Getting Shots You Love}
The act of sending and receiving Christmas cards might be my favorite of all holiday traditions. I just love seeing how my friends & family have changed and grown, and reading what they have been up to throughout the year. It reminds me that even in the midst of all this busyness, even when we don’t always have a chance to catch up, we are still connected. Husband and I have always sent photo cards, though some of our early photos were truly cringe-worthy. It has always been a dream of mine to learn to take really great photographs and I have spent a lot of time studying, practicing, ... read more
How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half
Food is expensive. The average family spends just over 10% of their household income buying groceries–over $6,000 a year–and even while average wages have gone down, the price of food keeps going up. When you are just trying to feed your family, that is a pretty scary prospect. That said, as more and more people are beginning to realize, coupons can be a great way to save money on food. If you’ve ever watched TLC’s Extreme Couponing, you probably already know that sometimes those savings can be quite dramatic. The problem is that those dramatic savings often come from seasoned coupon users who have spent countless hours clipping & ... read more
