holiday recap

Christmas felt a bit different this year with the mild temps and lack of snow... that is my attempt to open this post with an excuse as to why I've not posted any of these pics till now ;)

I know, I know, fail

Anywho, here's a short recap of our Holidays

Christmas morning we drove to my parents house and enjoyed this beautiful sunrise on the way.

Note that I said sunrise... a testament to how much I love my family that we were willing to get up that early.

There were lots of gifts to share at my parents house... the amazon box wrapping was my favorite! Haha!

The day after Christmas we spent at the Rogers side. More gifts to share!

And the annual family picture!

We hosted NYE and I took zero pictures.

Thankfully, Annie took a couple food pics with my camera so I could share.

This was the hot chocolate bar

and the yummy dessert table.

Is short, we had a great holiday week filled with family, friends & good times!

Here's to hoping you had the same!

a lovely ruffled scarf

I'm so excited about how this ruffled scarf turned out! I made it for my sister for Christmas and can't wait to make another one for myself! I found the origional idea and tutorial here. The tutorial has beautiful pictures, but I felt some clarifications on the instructions would be helpful, so here's my two-cent tutorial :)

Supples:

1/2 yard 60" jersey material

 matching thread

string pearls (found in the jewelry section)

I cut two 8" x 60" pieces of fabric and pinned them wrong sides together.

Then you zigzag sew the edges together stretching the material as you go (this creates the ruffle). Sew around the whole scarf. You can round the corners of the scarf if desired (I didn't do this so much this time, but plan to do it more on the next scarf I make).

I used the remaining jersey material to cut 10 2" circles for the flowers

Follow this tutorial to make the flowers and then hand sew them to the top layer of the scarf.

That's all there is to it!

Now you convince your special someone to take you on a date so you can show off your new accessory and crafty skilzzz (and that's the hard part of this project!)

my 2012 pinterest resolution

I've been hooked on addicted to pinterest for a solid 3+ months now. While I pin lots of things origionally found on other websites, most of my pins come directly from browsing pinterest. I feel like I have done a decent job of not only browsing new ideas/pins, but also, actually making/doing some of these ideas. The inspiration for my ruffled tree skirt, seen here, came from browsing pinterest. As did the recipe I used for Christmas potpourri & many things I haven't actually blogged about (bad me, I know).

However, I still have about a million projects pinned and that's if I stop pinning today and start projecting!

For the biggest and bestest year (yet)... 2012, I resolve to do/make/craft/DIY/cook/bake at least 12 (for the 12 months of the year) new pinterest projects and blog about them!

I'm not making any promises as to what projects I'll actually do and exactly when I'll do them, but browsing through my pins to-date, the following projects are currently at the top of my want-to-do-list:

This spray painted mat would sure add somthing special to the emptiness that is our front step, pin

 

These pillows are at the top of my to-do list (and Klarisa's to-receive list), pin

I've pinned soo many recipe's, like this yummy-looking smores cookie, pin

I plan on doing a gallery wall in basement and I can hardly wait to get started with ideas like this, pin

I'm sure to be adding to my wreath collection in 2012 and I love this wreath, pin

I guess that's enough drooling inspiration for now... 2012 is a time for action!!!

Anybody else have any big action plans for 2012 (pinterest inspired or not)?!?!


UPDATE:
project #1 chai latte cupcakes
project #2 valentine's heart felt ruffle wreath
project # 3 you are my sunshine stenciled pillow
project #4 freshly roasted coffee potpourri
project #5 sarah's bridal shower

2011 in review

2011 has been my first full year of blogging!! I think the reason I'm addicted is because it's pretty much a picture journal and I'll take pictures over words any day!!

Based on this year's blog posts here's what happened in my neck of the woods during 2011:

I got new glasses,

a new haircut,

and my ears pierced.

Kevin grew some extra hair, cut it all off and then ended up back where he started :)

Kevin also turned the b i g 3 - 0 this year! Woot Woot! We celebrated with friends, fun & cupcakes!

Mia started the year off with knee surgery and is doing great now!

I'm am learning to cut both doggies hair

We shared with our friends & family the blessings of first children:

Ella

Joshua

Katie

and Owen

We celebrated the marriages of

Mike & Stevie

Candice & Nick

and Paul & Krysten

There was more celebrating for my sister's high school graduation

We were able to visit some great places like

St. Louis

Colorado Springs

and Pittsburg

We watched our beloved Cards win another World Series!!

We also kept plenty busy around the house with:

Our first big bathroom remodel

canning grape juice

cooking

decorating with crafts

my first ever furniture redo

and just enjoing life!!!

and that's just a recap! What a great year! God has so richly blessed my life and I can't wait for all the exciting times  2012 will bring!!!

Happy New Year!!!

gifts as a love language

Since "gifts" is one of my primary love languages and shopping is one of my favorite activities...

I love Christmas!!

I've been seeing some really fun wrapping ideas on pinterest lately so I browsed the scrapbooking isle at Hobby Lobby and this is how some of my gifts turned out this year:

this one is to Kevin from Mia & Callie :)

My dad loves starbucks!

My sister, Marsha, loves all things that glitter and sparkle!

These nut crackers & santa were just 3D scrapbooking stickers!

Hopefully, there will be as much joy in opening these gifts as I had wrapping them!

Christmas definately make me refelct on how Jesus is the ultimate gift and he continues to shower me with many good gifts and how grateful I am to be able to also give to those I love.

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!