Christmas is Coming… Fast


Somehow the holidays are here, I mean like RIGHT HERE. I had a lot of grand ideas for our new house and all the different ways I could decorate now that we finally have some space. I somehow didn't think about the fact that we have two small children and we would be far from settled. The visions of lots of lights and garland on the bannisters disappeared, instead I decided to focus on getting the mantle done and stockings up along with the tree… a feat of it's own. 

From the Archives: Glitter Silhouette Canvas Art

Another post from the archives...this is one of my favorite projects - so easy, and so pretty.  I have ours up again this year! 

Enjoy!



I've been on a major glitter kick lately.  There were the glitter candles.  Then there were the glitter snowflake ornaments.  Last year, I made some glittery magazine trees.  And now?  Perhaps my very FAVORITE glitter project to date: the silhouette canvas.

Happy Happy!

It's going to be a quiet week around these parts - enjoy the holiday, friends!  





Cranberry Almond Biscotti: Take Two


Wow. Have you ever had one of those weeks? You know the kind where you don't know what day it is or maybe you don't realize that a major holiday that everyone is talking about is happening in a week? Yeah. I have had that week. At some point this week I realized that Thanksgiving was next week and that I had A LOT to get done in a few days. I also seemed to think that it was Wednesday for three days straight. Yup. It's official. I need more sleep. In all of my being overwhelmed this week, I decided it was time to pull out an old recipe because I needed a cup of coffee and some biscotti. There are days that a girl just needs to pause and bake right? Never mind that I have a full two page list of things that are pressing and a child that suddenly hates naps…girl needs biscotti and coffee solves everything. I promise.
 

Cajun Chicken Pasta

A big thanks to Rebecca for sharing this delicious looking recipe with us!  Who isn't a fan of a good pasta dish, especially when it's a knock off of a dish from The Cheesecake Factory??  Read on, friends.  Read on.
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So...The Cheesecake Factory. They've been serving up extreme deliciousness for over 30 years. Are you a fan? I am, but I live in a small, rural city and the closest location is over 3 hours away - not exactly a date night jaunt.

Given the long commute, a meal at The Cheesecake Factory is a rare treat for my family. But even you live closer, the wait is always long and it's not cheap - especially if you top off your meal with dessert. (Which is sort of the point of a restaurant with a dessert in its actual name. No cheesecake? Might as well go to Dairy Queen for a salad.) The last time my family ate there - with 2 adults, 2 kids and no alcohol - our bill was around $90, a bit steep if the budget is tight or anyone in the party is a cheapskate. Cough.

Hit or Miss Monday!

It's Monday. How is it already Monday? I'm a firm believer that we need weekends need a third day. You with me? I knew you would be. What did you do with your weekend? Miranda and I got together Saturday morning and watched the older children create mayhem, the younger ones don't seem to create as much mayhem… yet. But enough about us and our chaotic toddlers and my need for another day in the weekend, let's get to out hits and misses.

First up Miranda's Hit:


This is basically what happens every night in my house.  We talk about starting a movie, look at the clock and realize we might have to stay up UNTIL ELEVEN or so and decide to catch a DVR'd episode of Restaurant Impossible instead.  Lame, lame, lame.  

and her Miss:


I mean, what really do I say about this?  Why do this?  Why?  I'm all about hair being a way of expressing yourself but...this is strange.

Here is my Hit:


I'm not trying to make fun of Ryan Seacrest here, but this made me laugh. I want to find the episode he did this because it cracks me up, and yes, it might make me feel a tad better about myself right now. Heh. 

And my Miss:


This weirds me out. Am I the only one? Why would you want an earring that's an ear? I don't get it and it's freaks me out. It's like she has a very very tiny's person's ear stuck to her head. Would you wear this? Someone explain it to me if you would.

Find anything fun this week you want to share??






Elephants on the Move… Baby Mobile


Happy Friday friends. It may be just me, but I'm a little in denial that we are steamrolling into Thanksgiving and onward to Christmas. This is my favorite time of year so I like to soak up every minute but holy, this year sort of blind-sided me. It could be the chaos of moving or having a baby and toddler and the fact that all of my days sort of blur together - who knows. Speaking of baby - friends, Quinn was seven months old last week. SEVEN months. She's officially closer to turning one than to her birth. How did this happen?? She is a mess too. She's into everything and hates to be still. A while ago I had asked someone to make her bedding (because my sewing machine and I are on a break) and due to all different circumstances, the bedding was finally finished this week. It just so happened to be the same week that we had to lower her mattress because she tried to flip herself out of the crib. Yeah, seven months old. Trouble people, trouble.

From the Archives: Mason Jar Sewing Kit

Hey friends!

Here's a post from October of 2011...this is a fun little DIY gift idea that you can start working on for the holidays.  Enjoy!

Hit or Miss Monday

Happy Monday everyone!  I'm completely getting in the holiday spirit - these temps in the 60s here are having me dreaming of a white christmas...

Ok, not totally but I *am* really in the holiday spirit this year and already itching to decorate.  Don't worry, I will restrain myself.  At least for another few days!!

A Pork Roast for Fall


Winter suddenly feels like it's rolling in around here. It's gotten cold and with it has rolled in some sort of sickness. Lucky for me that I have taught my girls to share so well that they have decided to pass the ick on to me. Nothing major, just the weather change sniffles but still. Yuck.