Friday, December 21, 2012

some randoms for the end of the world.

I'm still here! Are you? Yeah, I thought so.


I'm eating some yummy homemade chex mix for breakfast. I love making chex mix around the holidays. I don't know why- it isn't exactly a holidayish food. But it's what I do. This batch was kicked up a few notches by the addition of two key ingredients:

1. Locally grown pecans from a friend's pecan farm, aka all the pecan trees growing on their land. YUM.

2. Pretzel M&M's. Yesterday, Evie was rummaging around in hubby's nightstand, as she's prone to do, pulling out and applying his chapstick over and over and over. And over. I finally came in the room to make sure she put it back and shut the drawer and discovered a bag of these chocolate delights. I angrily snatched them up, thinking for sure they were from last Christmas, when I Santa put them in his stocking. It wouldn't be the first time he hid some treat away and forgot about it, so I tore that bag open and dumped some in my afternoon snack. Bonus- they weren't stale! Then a few minutes later, he gets home from work and asks "what the heck!?" Apparently they weren't from last year... he had purchased them for my stocking. This year. Oops.


Evie is still working through this nasty cold. Poor baby. Nights are the worst. But I just pulled out one of her birthday gifts- a little wooden fishy puzzle and it made her very happy. Although right now she's methodically going through the house, closing every single door. Sister has a plan.

A few days ago she finally noticed all of the presents under the Christmas tree. I wasn't sure if I should put them out or not, since she's hip to presents and what they mean, now. She got very excited and wanted to open them all, naturally. "What about this one! What about this one, mommy?? How about that one!" :) She wasn't a happy camper when I tried to explain the whole waiting until Christmas concept.

Are you done Christmas shopping? Surely everyone else in the world but me is done. I tried to finish up yesterday while Evie was at Grammy's, but that last person on my list just wasn't happening. So I'll have to venture out today... Ugh.

Okay, what is up with Elf not being on tv at all this month?? Has anyone seen it? I feel like they're doing it on purpose or something. I'm dying to watch it.

Did I tell you guys I'm not working anymore? Yep, no more "real" job. This week was my first at home (well, I've always been at home, but you know what I mean).. no verdict yet, since we've had the sickies this week, which changes the normal dynamic. We'll see! No plans to send out my resume or apply for anything at this point, just hoping to dedicate more time to Lilac Row. And my girl. And the housework. Bleeergggh on that last one.

Merry Christmas weekend!


Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Christmas Card 2012 + the sickies.

* After nearly a week of the worst cough and sore throat I've ever had in my life, my girl finally caught my bug and started coughing last night. :( It made for a very long and sad night and subsequently, lots of laying around and more tv watching than I'd like to admit to today. But one good thing about sick babies is the extra cuddles. I love being able to hold her and rock her and squeeze her twice as often as normal. And who can say no to "watch eye-n skines, mommy? watch eye-n skines furst?" coupled with  those pleading, soulful blue eyes she throws at you? Who cares if it's the 53rd stinking Little Einsteins episode you've watched today and you can't get the theme song out of your head. Yes, baby, sure! Of course we can watch eye-n skines!


I'm just thankful I get to hold her at all. My heart is breaking for the parents in CT who long for their babies to hold one last time.  I cannot even imagine.


*     *     *     *     *


I was all on top of our Christmas cards this year. For once! I ended up taking an iphone pic of one of the cards, so that's why it looks so bad here. I'm still trying to figure out our new laptop with it's Windows 8 business. It's driving me nuts!


Christmas Card 2012

Anyway, a few weekends ago, I had a freak out that we wouldn't have any good pictures for our Christmas card, so we hauled my tripod out to the duck pond near our house before dusk. It's in the neighborhood next to ours, so I'm sure they were all thrilled with the crazy lady yelling and counting down and freaking out the ducks, trying to get a good shot. Whatever. 




 




* First portion was written Tuesday night. Which was another doozy. 

Friday, December 14, 2012

naughty or nice? you decide.


The above picture is literally the best expression we got. She was unshakable in her refusal to smile. Stubborn stinker.

And I love this last picture, of dad trying to talk her into talking to Santa at all. She took one look and then had that disgruntled look on her face the rest of the day. :)

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Project 52:48 {celebration}

thankful for...
celebration


Last week we celebrated my girl. My big two year old.

We made a big to-do about her birthday in the weeks leading up to the day and all through the weekend  until her party. It's so fun to celebrate big milestones and events. But I also love celebrating the not-so-big things in life. I want to show Evie that there is so much in life to celebrate, each and every day.

Like an impromptu trip to the park or spotting Christmas lights on the way home from Target.

I think she already gets it.. this celebration thing. Each and every time she spouts off her ABC's, which is at least a dozen times a day, she ends with a big "Yeeaaaayyyyyy!!" and gives herself a round of applause. Something to celebrate. :)


* * * * *

Read more about my Project 52.

Linking my Project 52 with:

Thursday, December 6, 2012

some randoms.

Am I the last one on earth to find out that Prince William and Kate are expecting??? I have to tell you- I don't know why, but I'm so excited for them. I just like them. Her, especially. She seems so nice and genuine and all of those dumb magazine articles made it seem like she was desperate for a baby, so I'm happy for her. Here's hoping the baby gets her genes in the looks department. :o)

I have been LOVING my Cozy Fireside scentsy the past few weeks. It seriously smells SO GOOD. It smells cozy and warm and spicy and holiday-ish and like you're locked inside, bundled up by the fire with a blizzard outside. Just like that.

I am feeling a blog layout change coming...

I am really hoping to start beefing up Lilac Row. It's been such a fun side job and creative outlet. I think it's time to start setting some goals for myself (business-wise), be more purposeful and really see what we can do. I so enjoy all of my projects and that it allows me to do so many different things. I get bored doing the same thing over and over.. no surprise. :) I need to share some of my recent projects with you guys- hopefully this week. OH! And come Like the Lilac Row Facebook page!

I really want/need to organize my Pinterest boards. They're a hot mess.

Yesterday I turned on the holiday music and added a little festiveness to a wall off our kitchen. I love sending and receiving holiday cards this time of year and wanted a cute place to display them. You know- other than the side of the fridge. :) It makes me happy every time I walk by!


I keep going back and forth in my mind about (re)decorating our house lately. We keep contemplating moving, and if we are going to move, I don't really want to make any other changes or paint or anything. But then I get the itch to switch something up. Like, every other day. It's such a part of me and I always want to make our home into a place for us. Cozy and inviting and pretty. So this in-between stuff if getting to me. In all likelihood, I'll pound more than a few more nails into the walls before we ever leave this place. :)

I really wish I was hosting a Christmas party! Not going to happen, but a friend of mine and I used to have one each year, back when we were single. I really want to start that up again and make it a yearly tradition. Wouldn't that be fun?

Happy Thursday!
 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

{DIY} White Felt Leaf Wreath



Time to get crafty! I feel like I work on a project every single day, but rarely do I share them with you guys. So it's your lucky day!! Are you excited?

I whipped up this simple wreath today. This is my favorite kind of crafting- only a few supplies needed, plus a warm drink, snack of your choice and a sofa to sit on while you watch re-runs of the Real Housewives of Whatever. Totally my kind of afternoon.

Here's what you need. Straw wreath form (leave the plastic on), white felt, scissors and a million push pins.

Start by cutting out a TON of felt leaves. I think in all, I had a little over 100 leaves. Then just start pinning the leaves onto your wreath form. Just overlap your leaves in a pretty way. Easy peasy. I did go back at the end and pin down the leaves in random places, to keep everything from shifting around.


 TA-DA!

Isn't it festive? Or actually- just really simple and a little modern? I can't decide. But I do love it! It's simple and sleek enough that I want to keep it up all year long, not just during Christmas. So I thought for now I should add a few little metallic berries to Christmas it up:

 



So what do you think?? 

Ps, I'm just now noticing that the lights on the top portion of our pre-lit tree have gone out. Lovely.

Linking up!

Holiday

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