Christmas 2011 was an amazing day for our family.  While Stormie and the rest of our fam were opening gifts at our parent’s home on Christmas morning, we were opening gifts at our house….just the 5 of us – or I should say 6.  Tristan surprised me and our 3 kiddos with a PUPPY!  We had NO idea that we were getting one, and I was so excited!  We named her Tuppy (the puppy) and she came to us quite unexpectedly.  She is very young – only 5 weeks.  Yes, I realize that that is much too young to leave the litter, but it was not our choice as she was already separated from her mother, and in need of some newborn care.  We are SO excited to be able to adopt her – thanks to our friend Michelle for setting it up!  Tuppy is the sweetest little thing (only 2 and a half pounds!), and so cuddly:)  You will be sure to see many more photos of her soon!

The kids woke up early, hardly ate any breakfast, and had such a great time opening gifts and playing with Tuppy and their new toys.  Pretty much a great Christmas morning for them.

Guini (age 6) and Tuppy – so sweet!  This is our kids’ first dog, so they were ecstatic when they found out that we were keeping her!  Lots of smiles:)

Gavin (age 8) – he loves Phineas and Ferb.

Gemma (age 4) – I’m so lucky that she loves to pose for photos!

Speaking of photos, Tristan (who is an amazing gift-giver and sometimes spoils me) bought me a Nikon DSLR camera for Christmas.  Yup.  I’m SO excited!!  I used the new camera to take the above photos, and although I’m still learning to use it – I already LOVE it:)

How was your Christmas?

Hello lovelies!  Last week I was so ahead of the game that I finished all 3 blog posts for the week on Monday so I feel like I haven’t blogged in forever!  I actually almost forgot today was my day.

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas spent with your loved ones – I know I did!  My family is SO generous and creative with gifts (see last year’s gifts) – we always have amazing Christmas morning celebrations.  This year, because our sister just got married a month ago (we just got the official photos back btw, so hopefully we will post more soon!), we all decided to scale back on gifts and handmade specifically because of the time factor.  “Scale back” in our family is still pretty over-the-top in most cases though – always a fun bunch:-)  I did still receive some amazing handmade and vintage gifts from my family – everything was so thoughtful and perfect.

With my sister having just moved out, there were a few things for the house that I was in need of – things she took with her.  For the most part, the small email I sent my mom for a Christmas list were those necessities, but there were a few “want” items also on the list – which ended up being Ikea items among a few other things.  So in addition to all of the other WONDERFUL gifts I received from my lovely family, I also went home with a few amazing items from Ikea.

The day after Christmas, because I didn’t have to work, 3 of my sisters and I decided to brave the crowds and go to Ikea as well.  We had been talking about making a trip down there for the last few months, so it seemed like a good time to do it.  Let’s just say, I made out with a lot of great items that day…

{Stockholm cushion, Frajen towel, Hessum doormat}

{Melodi pendant lamp, Foto pendant lamp}

{Ursula throw}

{Asker container, Skurar pot, Crassula plant, PS Vallo watering can, Kardemumma pots}

{Vilmie Rund throw}

My house currently looks like Ikea exploded inside of it – and I’m perfectly okay with that.  In addition to these things (some of which were gifts) I bought a few shelves for my kitchen and new walk-in pantry (more on that later) and I also finally have the legs to add to my table top so I can make this desk…yes!  I’m sure I am forgetting other small items like a design book and magnets, more plants and hanging racks, but you get the point – this Christmas is being deemed “An Ikea Christmas”.

I still have other, larger items on my “want” list from Ikea – but I will let these other things settle in first before loading up again.

This post is special.  It marks a very important day in my life.  10 years ago today, I married Tristan.  And this…is a note about him.

I love him.  I know I’m supposed to end with that, but I can’t wait because it’s important.  I want him to know that I love him first and foremost.

I adore being married to Tristan.  Being in a couple with him is the biggest self-confidence boost ever.  Quite often, I fill up with lovely pride at the thought that I get to be married to him.  Me!  I have had the extreme fortune of being married to him my entire adult life, and that is a pretty amazing thing.

I hope that I will forever get to feel this way.  It’s hard to imagine it getting any better than it is right now.  I love that we drink hot tea together every night.  I love to wake up every morning and feel his arms tight around me.  I will never get tired of watching him perform and play music and continue to stare in awe at his genius and modesty (and secretly hope to be that good at anything one day).

Our kids will forever have a great Dad.  What a gift he has given them (and me).  When they are older, they will have distinct memories of their Dad playing Battleship with them, and teaching them to play instruments and bake homemade bread.  They will have memories of time with him.  He loves them and it shows.

He is my best kept secret.  I could list out all of the funny, wonderful, crazy things that he says and does everyday, but I won’t.  Those moments are mine and only mine.  It’s hard to imagine anyone else having a husband like him.  He makes me laugh every day.  He kisses me and tells me he loves me everyday.  He spends time with me, cooks for me, and is the best gift-giver ever.

He makes me feel so happy…and I love him.

I have been wanting to do a “What’s in my bag” post for awhile now.  I recently bought a new purse, so I figured – what better time?

I try to keep things as organized as possible inside my purse.  I carry so many things with me that if I don’t keep it organized and in seperate cases, I would never be able to find ANYTHING.

1. Plaid tote from Target

2. Bow gloves from Target

3. Pen & Ink sketchbook for random ideas on the spot

4. Missoni for Target notebook – currently for jotting down Christmas ideas

5. ‘New to me’ floral wallet (thrifted)

6. Gum….Orbit.

7. Burt’s Bees Original Lip Balm & ‘Rose’ Tinted Lip Balm (always a must)

8. Poketo for Target pouches (Largest one has all medicines, cough drops, etc.  Middle is for headphones and iPod, Smallest for pens)

9. Sunnies from Forever 21/ Readers from Urban Outfitters

10. Keys – coffee key chain is Poketo for Target

11. Leather coin purse (thrifted)

12. Seagate GoFlex portable hard drive (a lifesaver!)

13. Planner from Anthropologie

14. iPhone – case is Otterbox Commuter Series

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little peak into my bag!

Have a fantastic Christmas and a blessed weekend – Stephanie May and I will be taking Sunday and Monday off from blogging to spend time with our families – give yours a little love from us!

I change my Christmas decorations every year.  This year I did a white tree with colorful ornaments, and white lights (see my trees from the past 2 years here) – it makes me happy every time we plug it in.  I have still been buying and adding decorations (mostly vintage), and I still feel like there is more to be added!  I love decorating for Christmas because you can really go big and a bit crazy and it seems pretty normal….right?

We set the tree up between the living room and entryway – we’ve never had it here, but I really like how you can see it from every area of the downstairs.

View from the front door.

I put the tree up on a vintage wooden crate – I like having a large space underneath.

You got a sneak peek of this area in our video Christmas card!  I was fortunate to be able to obtain a shelf that my parents made from my sister’s wedding.  I knew I wanted to create a faux-fireplace looking shelf to house Christmas decorations and other favorite pieces.

“Remembrance, like a candle, burns brightest at Christmastime.”  Charles Dickens

Christmas cards.

I love this little guy!  Totally worth $.49!

Remember when I made these flowers?

12 Days of Christmas.  I cut the dark green edge off of this vintage linen that my mom-in-law gave me.

Garlands hanging from the ceiling make it feel like a party all the time.  I scored this Martha Stewart garland for a buck!

The paper flowers were used at our sister’s bridal shower and wedding.  It was good timing to be able to reuse those for Christmas.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of my decorations!  See Stormie’s decorations here if you haven’t already.  Merry Christmas:)

Hello lovelies!  Are you ready for another tutorial?  This one is super easy and cheap – plus it is something you can do in a hurry (it just takes a little drying time).

Doily bowls are so pretty and make such a great gift.

Here are your supplies needed:

Doilies (thrifted or handmade)

Fabric Stiffener (can be found at any craft store)

Large bowl to use as a form

Seran wrap

Paint Brush

Step 1: Wrap your bowl(s) in seran wrap to protect it from the glue

Step 2: Arrange your doily over the bowl (use a bowl big enough to hold the entire doily without extra hanging off)

Step 3: Apply a layer of fabric stiffener to the entire doily, coating well

Step 4: Allow to dry for about 12-24 hours (re-coating if there are sections not hardening)

Step 5: Remove the doily from the bowl and apply fabric stiffener to the inside of the bowl

Step 6: Allow to dry completely

Enjoy for yourself or wrap carefully(maybe using some handmade washi tape?) and gift it to your favorite person.

You have a few days before Christmas, get on it!

It’s Christmas week – hooray!!  Tristan and I (along with our 3 kids) made our Christmas card last week, and you get to watch it today!  We wanted to do something a little different, so we made a remake/cover version of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.  I know I’ve said it before, but Tristan is a verrrry talented musician, and he was the master mind behind this project.  He taught our 3 kids to play parts on different instruments and then constructed the song by editing and mixing all of the sounds together.

We set up our “recording studio” in our living room and kitchen for about 3 days.  Since we were doing a video as well, we had to make sure that we wore the same outfits each day, which was weird for me!  I had to make sure to try to do my hair and makeup in the same way.

Each of the kids did such a great job playing their instruments and they never. ever. complained about the process (wink).  I was nervous about singing and playing guitar for the video, but I’m glad that I pushed through the fear.  It turned out cute, and even though I don’t love my parts 100%, I’m happy that it’s a really great memory of this year.

Tristan made this list of who did what on the song:

Gavin (age 8): Balloons, Sleigh Bells, Bass Guitar, Crash Cymbal, Bass Drum, Jaymar Piano, Dancing, Funny Faces

Guinivere (age 6): Balloons, Tambourine, Bass Guitar, Crash Cymbal, Bass Drum, Jaymar Piano, Dancing, Cuteness

Gemma (age 4): Balloons, Shaker, Crash Cymbal, Bass Drum, Jaymar Piano, Dancing, Sweetness

Stephanie (mom): Vocals, Guitars, Bass Drum

Tristan (dad): Drums, Guitars, Mixing

*We also wanted to thank my brother Rocky for helping with mixing, and my dad and Stormie for letting us use their cameras.  :)

Eeeep!  Here it is – hope you like it!

Do you love washi tape as much as I do?  I thought you might…

If you don’t know what washi tape is, it is basically Japanese “masking tape”.  Typically printed with different patterns and colors and having an almost transparent look, it is great for decorating packages.  It really is a lovely thing; the only downside is how expensive it tends to be.

Luckily, when Stephanie and I went to this estate sale, I found some crepe paper in pretty colors and decided to make my own.  For Christmas this year, I wanted to use other forms of wrapping my gifts than just buying wrapping paper.

My supplies of choice have been brown paper, shelf liner, crepe paper, embroidery floss & vintage stamps {all thrifted or from garage and estate sales}.  Pretty AND cheap – my favorite.

Now let’s get to the washi tape.

Supplies needed:

Crepe paper or tissue paper

Double-sided tape

Pre-cut your strips of paper to be about the same width as your tape.  It doesn’t have to be exact, just try not to cut it too skinny or it won’t cover the tape.

1. Place a piece of double-sided tape on your package (or other surface if you are doing something else)

2. I tore off a little piece on the end of my crepe paper to get the rough washi tape ‘edge’

3. Place the paper over the tape you have down, pressing firmly

4. Tear off the other end just longer than your tape

Washi tape without the price tag.

Use it to decorate your packages in other ways.

I have another fun and easy tutorial to share on Wednesday – if you have any last minute gifts to make – so be sure to check back.

Until then,  have fun wrapping your Christmas packages!!

I felt so inspired by this post on Design Sponge, I HAD to tell you about it here.  These are Before and After photos of a kids’ bedroom, but not just any bedroom – it is a small bedroom that is shared by THREE young kids.  Meg Spaeth’s blog, Elsie Marley is the original source of this design goodness.  I was so excited to see this because, all 3 of my kids share a bedroom, and that is not something that you see very often!  It can be very hard to find good examples of shared rooms for more than 2 children, and I think that this room is incredible, special, and just plain fun:)

The loft bed!!  Love it:)

Such a cute surprise when the drawers are pulled out!

The animal heads on the wall are such a cute and colorful touch.  And I love the map!

The whole transformation was done for $250!  You can see even more photos of the space and read about the makeover here & here.  Thank you Meg for inspiring me so much!  You have definitely found a new reader in me:)

Lately I have found myself watching silly ABC Family Christmas movies while I wrap presents at night.  For the most part, they are not very good -- but they provide okay entertainment while I’m not really focused on them fully but on wrapping.

Last night I was scrolling through movies on Netflix instant play and when I saw the thumbnail for this movie.  I figured it was something akin to Get Over It or Hamlet 2 which I was not really in the mood for but I clicked on it anyway.  When I saw Martin Freeman was the main character, I decided to watch it.  Martin Freeman -- enough said.

Martin’s character, Paul, is an elementary school teacher who has to direct the Nativity play against his will.  To get back at an old friend who is now more “successful” than he is, he promises that someone from Hollywood is coming to film their production (which is a lie).

{Love this face…really}

With the help of his insanely hilarious school aid, Mr. Poppy, they realize that the students are more talented than they first appeared and the planning of the production is so sweet (with some extra funny “auditions” from the cutest kids EVER).

There is even a little romance thrown in with Ashley Jensen from Extras (also something I would HIGHLY recommend).

Honestly, I cannot recommend this movie more -- it was fantastic!  British movies are a weakness for me, but this was so funny, sweet and utterly lovely -- I will probably be watching it again before the season is over.

Oh and this little one….this guy has my heart (when you watch the movie, you’ll see why).

Definitely a must-watch this Christmas season…and it’s on instant play, so you have no excuse not to!

Have a lovely, family-time filled weekend!