Merry Christmas!

 Merry Christmas, friends! Wishing you all the best! Don't hold back on the hugging and eating :)

 

How awesome are these vintage ornaments!?! I really scored on these, coming in at $1 a box from our local Habitat ReStore. You really never know what you might find there! (At ours right now - 3 old toilets that we replaced from our house and donated. I'm so happy to see those gone and not taking up space in our garage)

I'm just swooning over the packaging design!

Obligitory photo of one of the kitty babes checking out mom's latest find.

 

 Again, have a very merry Christmas! Much love!

Simple Rustic Wreath DIY

 The holidays are officially upon us! We got our Christmas tree over the weekend and we had some trimmings that I didn't want to go to waste. Thankfully I there was an old metal wreath form in our garage and some wire. I whipped up this wreath in no time! If you don't have a wreath form on hand try using a couple metal clothes hangers (if you happen to have those).

Grab some gloves and a small clippers to trim pieces further if necessary. I found it easiest to have a glove only on my left hand to hold the greenery to the frame and my right hand was free to wrap the wire around the frame. Wrap the wire around the base of the branch to attach it to the frame. You can use the a long piece of wire continuously adding pieces to make it full and covering where you wrapped the previous branch.

Once the wreath is nice and full you can hang it up on your door for everyone to admire your handiwork! I used some ribbon I had in my stash. There are so many options for this! I think it would be awesome with a thick strip of fabric, plaid flannel, or burlap. Use what you have on hand! My trick for hanging it on the door is to use an upside down command hook on the inside of the door and tie the ribbon to it.

Do you use any of the leftover tree trimmings for decor? I'd love to hear how you use them!

End of 2011 Recap

Hi friends! Sorry for the long break in blogging...

I've enjoyed the holidays - spending time with my husband, snuggling with kitties babies, eating, and laughing with friends and family!

Overall it was wonderful - besides New Year's Eve and day. I was sick. No fun. We were out of town too. I'm very thankful that I don't get sick very often. I'm hoping with this instance I got my sick done with for last year and this year! If only it worked that way.

Here's some of my favorite photos from December!

 

{our Christmas tree!}

{I love bokeh and all the lights to do it with this time of year!}

{my cousins have three bearded dragons - I love all the detail}

{my in-law's Christmas tree}

{my husband surprised me with the Jo Totes bag I wanted! I love that it is the same color as my yellow suitcases}

{sweet sign at Baxter's Winery & Vineyards in Nauvoo, IL}

{we checked out the lit up floats at a park in Fort Madison, IA}

{giant snowglobe!}

 {my husband's aunt and uncle own the Kingsly Inn in Fort Madison - if you're ever in that area stay there!}

 {Gorgeous stuff at the Kingsly Inn}

{my husband and I at a fancy poker party my sister and I throw}

I hope you all had wonderful (sick free) holidays!

On My Playlist This Season

Here's what I'm listening to while sipping hot cocoa.


Check out the rest of Sufjan Stevens' Christmas stuff as well. They have tons!



Really listen to the lyrics on this next one! Love the last two verses:

We’re so much more than blood, we’re more than names
We’re bound by bonds that only God sustains
But this time of year we all gather here
And I always know I’m home

There are voices now where silence was
The subtle signs of growing up
Where one is born, another leaves
Branches on the family tree



Seriously gorgeous a cappella harmonies in this next one. Swooning.







Couldn't find these next two on youtube. Hope these work!

Christmas Must Be Tonight - Bahamas
Christmas Must Be Tonight (Album Version)

Silent Night - Zach Gill
Silent Night

What are your favorite Christmas songs?